DOUBLING UP IN EASTPORT RAIN SYMPHONY +
Project: The Slate House
Architect: Ziger|Snead Architects
Interior Design: Jay Jenkins at Crosby Jenkins Associates
Photography: Adam Rouse Photography
SHOWROOMS: TIMONIUM, MD
GAITHERSBURG, MD
COLUMBIA, MD
MD
Gramophone creates high-performance living environments— layering lighting and shading design, smart home automation, advanced electrical infrastructure, and audio and video systems that are as discreet or as expressive as the design demands.
Tour
In
Tour three very different game rooms, including an analog room free of technology.
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
Publishing & Digital Marketing Assistant
Parker Vogel
Photographers
David Burroughs
John Cole
Anice Hoachlander
Adam Kane Macchia
Marco Ricca
Kate Wichlinski
Writers
Dylan Roche
Walinda P. West
Copy Editor
Patricia Stainke
Bookkeeper
Amber Trainer
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.
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© 2026 by Taylor Haywood Media, LLC.
Welcome to the March issue of Annapolis Home Magazine! As you browse our pages, we invite you to dive beneath the surface to learn what makes a home tick and become familiar with the physical, conceptual, and psychological forces that shape it. For example, tour a home whose modern architecture, open spaces, and lack of doors and walls communicate both openness and intimacy. The architects, Mark and Jeff McInturff, created volumes and mass that shapeshift to become exactly what the young homeowners needed. They made the space their own, with furnishings from Asia, a courtyard mirroring a traditional Chinese hutong, work and gaming spaces, and art that speaks to them.
Read on to discover a stormwater management system that is both beautiful and useful. Raised Corten steel runnels ingeniously channel stormwater into waterfalls and water features, creating a biodiverse ecosystem that nurtures local flora and fauna. Owned by a grieving homeowner, the garden brings healing to the human spirit and to the earth itself. We also bring you something rare: a three-story home in Eastport created from two separate homes, with three staircases and a roof deck. Finally, we feature three game rooms, including a screen-free analog room filled with games, instruments for jamming, and low couches conducive to conversation.
When you get right down to it, our issue celebrates homes that are truly loved and lived in. More versatile than ever, they offer spaces for entertaining, introspection, and togetherness—spaces designed for activities that bring joy. We hope you find a favorite chair and browse these pages on your own, for there is more hidden inside.
Enjoy!
Kymberly Taylor & Robert Haywood
Publishers
kymberly@annapolishomemag.com | robert@annapolishomemag.com
For subscriptions and advertising, visit: annapolishomemag.com
For Advertising and Operations contact Robert Haywood at robert@annapolishomemag.com or call 443.942.3927.
The Evolution Tour - Step Afrika! performs at Maryland Hall on April 17 at 7:30 pm. Marking more than 30 years as a company, the program combines step choreography with a live DJ soundscape.
Tickets: stepafrika.org/events/evolutionannapolis2026
Timeless Brilliance - Pianist Woobin Park performs with The Annapolis Chorale and Chamber Orchestra at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts on May 2 at 7:30 pm. The program features Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto and his Mass in C Major
Tickets: liveartsmd.org/tb
Ken Friedman: 92 Events - Fluxus artist Ken Friedman’s first solo exhibition is on view at The Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Art Museum through April 5. The exhibition presents 50 instructional texts, or “event scores,” alongside selected interpretations by local participants responding to the works.
Info: sjc.edu/mitchell/exhibitions
Rhythm to Revolution - The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and pianist Pascal Rogé perform on April 10 and 11 at 7:30 pm. The program includes Gabriela Ortiz’s Antrópolis, Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5.
Info: annapolissymphony.org/events/rhythm-to-revolution
Miró and the United States - This exhibition examines Joan Miró’s exchanges with American artists, including Jackson Pollock, Norman Lewis, and Helen Frankenthaler. Co-organized with the Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona, it is on view at the Phillips Collection from March 21 to July 5.
Info: phillipscollection.org/event/2026-03-21-miro-and-united-states
Big Things for Big Rooms - On view through July 4, 2027, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden presents largescale works by artists including Robert Irwin, Richard Long, and Olafur Eliasson.
Info: hirshhorn.si.edu/exhbitions/big-things-for-big-rooms
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain performs at the Avalon Theatre on April 14 at 7 pm, presenting arrangements that span rock, classical, and pop music.
Tickets: avalonfoundation.org/event/ukulele-orchestra-great-britain-0
Black Girls and Butterflies Are Beautiful - Works by Kianga Jinaki and Charlese Annette Phillips are on view at the Dorchester Center for the Arts from April 11 to May 30. The exhibition uses mixed media and textile traditions to focus on Black women and lived experience.
Info: dorchesterarts.org/event/black-girls-and-butterflies-are-beautiful
Have an art event you would like us to consider? Please share at ahm@annapolishomemag.com
This contemporary home built into a suburban hillside was once a ubiquitous split-level from the 1970s.
by Kymberly Taylor
by Anice Hoachlander
In a rolling neighborhood packed with traditional architecture, a contemporary home nestles into the side of a hill, veiled by a stand of poplars. Designed by architects Mark and Jeff McInturff with landscape architect Lila Fendrick, a sequence of stepped levels follows the contours of the land. With a distinct Asian design sensibility, interior spaces with clean lines flow smoothly from high levels to low. In minimalist rooms, a few plush furnishings rise like friendly islands in a calm sea.
“ It was a house in two parts; one went away.”
– Mark McInturff
The Zen garden is inspired by subtemple gardenscapes in Kyoto. Rooted in Buddhism, boulders on neat squares of gravel encourage deep connections with nature that transcend the picturesque.
This is the home that Kacy Yang and Tian Xia, both born in China, have loosely envisioned ever since they got married. With Tian’s assistance, Kacy managed the interior design and hand-selected many of the furnishings from China and other Asian countries. As you stare up at a 16-foot ceiling, you would never know this light-filled atrium was once a humble split-level from the 1970s. The couple bought the home for its “good bones” and moved in during Covid before their major remodel.
When it came to the exterior, they knew they wanted “modern,” but were not sure how to get there. Mark and his son Jeff listened and got to work. They literally cut the original split-level in half and tore off the right side, explains McInturff. “It was a house in two parts; one went away,” he says. The “old” half was simply renovated, with a family room on the lowest level and bedrooms on the second. The new half was enlarged, replaced with a sequence of stepped-down volumes, and lit on three sides by clerestory windows, explains Mark. They moved the garage further away from the house and, at the farthest end of the new wing, inserted a pair of small offices.
A vestibule between them steps out to a hutong, which is a small inner-facing courtyard common to homes in Beijing. The design is similar to one in Kacy’s great-grandmother’s home. The adjoining garden is inspired by Zen temple gardens that Kacy discovered during her travels, especially in Kyoto, Japan.
“ The first wood you start with is the wood you should end with. We don’t need to have a wood festival. That whole attitude is very Scandinavian and also Japanese.”
– Mark McInturff
Those of us living in homes with conventional Western designs are quite comfortable with picturesque façades, designated kitchen and dining zones, and a general sense of verticality. However, this residence unfolds on a horizontal plane: there are very few walls or doors, and uncluttered rooms are free of psychic weight. Muted tones and low furnishings encourage an unusual calm.
The folding screen against the far right wall was painted by the homeowner. Clerestory windows allow light in from almost all sides of the house.
The airy, wide-open rooms in the interior are well-suited for the couple’s Asian design aesthetic. Tian, who is from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, said, “We were inspired by Japani, which blends Asian modern with Scandinavian clean lines.” To Tian, comfort was especially important. “I asked him what he wanted, and he showed me furniture from The Four Seasons,” recalls Kacy. This is evident in the great room’s resort-style low couches arranged for conversation, much like the interior of a 5-star hotel.
The home has an abundance of light wood, which was a deliberate choice. White pine floors add warmth and unify this home. “The first wood you start with is the wood you should end with. We don’t need to have a wood festival. That whole attitude is very Scandinavian and also Japanese,” says Mark.
The floorplan mirrors the couple’s lives on several levels. For example, both Tian and Kacy work in the tech field. A userexperience designer, Kacy ensures that a corporation’s website is easy to navigate. She says she applies the same principles to her home. “Usability is a big part of us. The house has to be beautiful; it has to be our space. When it was being designed, we knew we wanted a gaming station, a place to chill, and the offices. And because we have separate work spaces, we wanted a ‘family-get-together space’ downstairs.”
The couple received what they wanted and more. The main living area is one giant space with a wall of windows overlooking the forest in the backyard. This room is divided by a single distinct wooden cabinet, a blend of Scandinavian beauty and practicality. Designed by Jeff, the cabinet is basically a freestanding multi-functional wall; storage drawers and closets hide all clutter from view. Ingeniously, it contains major kitchen appliances on one side—including ovens, a coffee maker and warming drawer—and a fireplace on the other.
The rest of the space has only essential furnishings. There is a traditional tea table in one sunlit nook and couches that Kacy hand-selected from her father’s furniture factory in China. The Asian atmosphere is especially deepened by two art pieces in the main room. The first is a folding screen Kacy painted in an abstract design with a black and gold palette. The other is by a painter in China. Chinese characters state, “Mind over matter. When you have mind over matter, you will achieve ultimate freedom.” Gesturing to the sun-washed room animated by two frisky airborne cats, she says, “That is kind of my motto here.” Her cats, named Miso and Tofu, are Persian Munchkins. Distinguished by very short legs, they travel low to the ground, much like miniature magic carpets. They have a special interactive play rug and lounging cushions in almost every room.
This home’s outdoor seating area is partially covered; an intriguing cutout emphasizes the exterior’s geometry.
One steps down to the lower level, which has the feeling of a cozy den, with a separate space for an office and gaming. The staircase is framed by geometric glass panels sandwiched between and enclosed by pieces of steel designed by Jeff. “It was a challenge because first I presented them with a wood lattice railing,” he recalls.
The architecture seems detached from its well-behaved neighbors. Yet, its open concept is paradoxically intimate. Spaces can adapt and shapeshift, reflecting the personalities, passions, and eccentricities of those who live inside. This is indeed what Mark hopes to achieve with his clients. “At the end of the day, I want to design houses that look like them,” he says.
Sometimes, glass and steel structures are perceived as cold and impersonal. However, Kacy and Tian prove this theory wrong. The
architecture and interior of their new home make them happy. It is that simple and that complex. Beloved objects from China animate rooms with the energy of origin. Private and communal spaces, with tea tables and gaming zones, bring joy to each day. Even the Persian Munchkins are satisfied. There is something special, even magical, going on in this logical home—Kacy and Tian, with their user-friendly and comfort-driven objectives, give “purposeful design” an extra fresh meaning.
ARCHITECT: Mark & Jeff McInturff, McInturff Architects
CONTRACTOR: Acadia Contractors, Inc.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Lila Fendrick Landscape Architects
AUDIO/VISUAL: SmartTouch USA
Steel runnels traverse the landscape, routing stormwater into rain and moss gardens and water features, including a submerged Japanese echo pot.
by Kymberly Taylor
Photography by Kate Wichlinski
“How can you make stormwater poetic and integrate art?”
– Mila Antova
Artistry and stormwater management are rarely mentioned in the same breath. In fact, the most common approach to rainwater management is to pipe the water off the site, notes Mila Antova, a principal at Moody Graham Landscape Architecture. However, when her client Jerry Chang asked her to solve severe flash flooding at his home in McLean, Virginia, she began to think creatively about fresh solutions, drawing upon her study of stormwater, ecology, people, and art.
“Most people think storm water is a nuisance, and yes, it is scary and can be devastating. How can we change that? How can we work together with city engineers, collaborate with professionals, and think of different ways to harness the storm and surface runoff?” she asks.
Chang wanted freedom from floods and a garden for mental rejuvenation that reflected the orthogonal lines of his modern home. Antova wanted a storm management plan and much more—a system that could not only solve flooding, but also help people learn about natural processes while enjoying their garden at the same time. “How can you make stormwater poetic and integrate art?” she asks.
Rain Symphony was her answer. Composed of underground pipes that collect storm runoff and direct it to bio-retentive gardens, Rain Symphony is dotted with vegetated swales, boulders that double as seating, and inventive steel runnels that artfully divert rushing waters. Runnels made of Corten steel weave through the garden and then rise, splitting into two levels. When at rest, they are intriguing sculptural forms that develop a patina over time. When activated by heavy storms, unsightly runoff travels along the rails and becomes a glistening waterfall. “The drizzling and drumming, the humming and roar of the rain bring the runnels to life. The garden comes to life, transforming something that is scary and unwanted into something beautiful that connects you to nature,” says Antova.
As the project evolved, she worked closely with her colleagues at Moody Graham, civil engineer Greg Budnik, and Oldetowne Landscape Architects. Among other things, they shortened the front driveway and reshaped the entire topography, integrating trees, shrubs, grasses, and groundcovers. Vegetation slows down surface runoff and aids absorption into the ground, where microbe-laden soil and plants filter and clean the water. Plantings include layers of spring bulbs, sweet bay magnolia, edible kiwi vines, bald cypress, dogwood, climbing hydrangeas, and natural grasses.
“The drizzling and drumming, the humming and roar of the rain bring the runnels to life.”
– Mila Antova
The rainwater begins its journey along the runnels at the base of this giant boulder, hand-selected by the landscape architect at a local quarry.
The team manipulated the topography, creating a terraced landscape on a steep slope and replacing the lawn with plants.
A giant central boulder, installed with a crane that swooped over the house, centers the back garden. Visible from the kitchen window, the striking monolith, hand-selected from a local quarry, is a kind of metaphor for a mountain where the headwaters of a stream gather before cascading down. At its base, underground pipes route water to an underground catch basin that overflows into the runnels. In the south corner of the yard, two boulders are surrounded by a moss garden containing five kinds of moss that act as natural sponges and filters, says Antova.
A hidden water feature at the base of one of the boulders is a key instrument in Rain Symphony. Inspired by a Japanese water feature, a clay pot hidden underground becomes an echo chamber as rain drips in. “The idea is that rainwater kind of animates the garden. You have to come and discover where the sound is coming from,” she explains.
Much like a symphony, each rainfall has different sounds and reverberations as it travels through the system, depending upon the storm’s force.
“There are different levels and layers of sound: things are dripping and rushing, you hear the birds and the sound of the rain on the leaves, the wind creates its own symphony, the needles of the cypress dropping onto ice or snow creates sound,” reflects Antova. “The rain invites interaction and instills an appreciation for the power of nature, how plants naturally filter out toxins and clean the environment.”
She notes that the project evolved over time, as did her relationship with her client. “My client had experienced some personal trauma…. [A]s the project progressed, it also became a healing garden,” she recalls. “It is almost ecologically healing and human healing, this journey that was going on at the same time.”
To Antova, the garden is not only a complex, biodiverse environment but also a powerful tool, a friend, and a healer. “It is important,” she notes, “to allow yourself to go outside and spend time.... Life is not always full of fluffy pink clouds. It allows you to think about sadness or grief or whatever the emotion of the moment is and get it off your chest, if you will.”
Both beautiful and functional, this quarter-acre oasis nurtures humans and wildlife, including a large fox named Hazel.
Somehow, just thinking about Rain Symphony with its energetic mosses, rising runnels, and underground clay pot, is soothing. In the dead of winter, birds hop and sing in the thickets, and fresh fox tracks appear in the snow. Despite these dark times, infinite layers of goodness live in this garden. This suburban oasis welcomes rain, foxes, birds, and humans as equals. If you drive by at just the right time, you may hear Chang and his son “singing in the rain” and, with their flooding problem solved, no one can blame them.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: Moody Graham Landscape Architecture
FABRICATION & INSTALLATION: Oldetowne Landscape Architects
CIVIL ENGINEER: GJB Engineering, Inc.
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE: Hedge Garden Care
An exceptional Murray Hill residence on a rare double lot, this 5-bedroom, 4-bath home was originally built in 1913 and updated top-to-bottom in a tasteful renovation. Offering over 7,000 sq ft, it seamlessly blends historic elegance with modern luxury. Highlights include a gourmet kitchen, screened porch, multiple fireplaces, and an elevator! The expansive primary suite features a fireplace, dual closets, and a marble bath. Old world charm abounds with high ceilings, original floors, and custom millwork. Adding to its charm and livability is the private driveway, two-car garage, and the fully fenced, professionally landscaped yard. A truly one-of-a-kind Annapolis offering.
Two homes in Eastport were combined to create this spacious residence.
BY DYLAN ROCHE PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID BURROUGHS
Though located in Eastport’s coveted “Peninsula” where space is at a premium, this home manages to have an ample front yard.
OVERthe past 40 years, Eastport—the quaint waterfront neighborhood just across Spa Creek from downtown Annapolis—has shifted from a working maritime enclave to one of the city’s most sought-after residential areas, known for its walkability, water access, and increasingly upscale homes.
But through it all, the sense of community found there is what keeps Eastport feeling like Eastport. Take a walk through Eastport today, and you might no longer see as many sailmakers or fishermen as you once did, but the sense of community and Eastport pride is just as vibrant among this new generation of residents.
“There’s something special there—you can feel the foundation of a real maritime industry in place with the balance of residential and maritime commercial,” explains David Orso, a leading Anne Arundel real estate agent with longstanding ties to the area. “It’s a really good blend of urban meets small suburbia, and there’s a sense of work-life balance. You’re going to see your neighbors having a drink out on their porch or going out on the water.”
This kind of lifestyle is reflected in a 1980s home that recently underwent a full renovation by designer Lauren Stiles and architect Devin Kimmel. The house was originally built as a single house and was later converted into two conjoined houses divided by a doorway in the foyer. In this project, Stiles and Kimmel took it back to its roots as a single house again: the latest iteration in a long evolution, just like the evolution of Eastport itself.
As for the Eastport lifestyle, the renovated home has plenty of outdoor living space, maximized water views, and room for entertaining. It’s the kind of place where you could easily imagine a friend stopping by on their walk around the neighborhood and kicking back with the owner on the extensive back porch.
The staircase leads right to the third story and opens onto a
Skylights and custom floor-to-ceiling windows ensure natural light floods the space.
The custom light fixtures throughout this home are mostly minimal, deferring to white walls and black-framed windows.
The main living space is open and airy—a great contrast to the way it once was: dark and divided into smaller spaces. “The goal was to make the house feel cohesive and up-to-date while maintaining its original scale,” Kimmel says. “The updates reflect Eastport’s evolving architectural trends, moving from the ’80s style to a more modern look.”
They kept the original footprint: long from left to right but shallow, as Stiles describes it. By using consistent white oak flooring from the interior living space out to the exterior living space, they gave the house a much deeper feel. In total, there are about 2,000 square feet of outdoor living space between the expansive back porch and the rooftop deck, which overlooks the water. By opening the back wall to the garden with doors and windows, and the front wall to the street with extensive windows, the house now has all the light it greatly needed, according to Kimmel.
The warm white oak floors that seamlessly connect the exterior and interior serve another important style purpose. Their transitional aesthetic, like the shaker-style cabinets in the kitchen, balances out the more modern elements, such as the floating stairs, the geometric light fixtures, and the sleek furniture. “Those little details add up to strike that balance,” Stiles says.
The furnishings are another important part of that balance: modern but transitional, comfortable but timeless. “We wanted to pick silhouettes that weren’t so unfamiliar to the clients that they didn’t feel comfortable to them, but also had a fun play into this modern style,” Stiles says.
The walls and floor of the house have a primarily neutral base, but shades of blue and green give it a maritime essence without being too obvious. Each room has its own unique personality, but Stiles repeated colors and materials to
This quintessential rooftop deck overlooks the mouth of the Severn River, where yachts of all sizes come and go all year round.
Natural grasses and perennials soften the scene, introducing a touch of the wild.
unify them all. “It’s repetitive. All the materials show up again, in some form, having multiple forms of material, wood, stone, concrete,” she says. “And I tried to incorporate them in each space so it would hit those repetitive points. As you walk throughout the home, it feels cohesive.”
In some ways, updates didn’t need to be complicated. Stiles decided to modernize the existing fireplace by simply painting it a deep shade of midnight blue, giving it new life without completely remaking it.
Given new life and brought into 21st-century Eastport, this fully updated home has kept the same footprint and the same location in the middle of a thriving community, still pays tribute to the Eastport of old, and achieves Stiles’ goal of being timeless. AH
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Lauren Stiles, LifeStiles Design
ARCHITECT: Devin Kimmel and David Mallon, Kimmel Studio Architects
BUILDER/REMODELER: Greg Younger, Younger Construction
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Kimmel Studio Architects
LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR: Michael Prokopchak, Walnut Hill Landscape Company
Kitchen Countertops and Backsplash – In Home Stone
Kitchen Hood Lime Plaster Finishes – The Artists Republic
First Floor Fireplace Lime Plaster Finishes – The Artists Republic
Entry and Dining Room Chandeliers – Giopato & Coombes
Angelita is the first American yacht to win a gold medal in the Olympics. Recently restored to Bristol condition, she is a “double ender” with a narrow bow and stern.
by Gary Jobson
The48-mile sail from Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard to Newport, Rhode Island, was exhilarating. The wind was blowing hard at 18-23 knots on that warm August day. The locals call this wind condition a “Smoky Southwester.” I felt lucky to be steering this remarkable Olympic champion sailboat, named Angelita, which had won a gold medal in the 1932 Olympic Games. The waves were big, and Angelita sailed easily over and through the choppy seas. I felt like the skies and sails over my head, my body sitting on the rail with my hand on the tiller, slicing through the sea, all existed as one. The boat was in a groove and sailing at 9 knots. Our crew was comfortable and happy.
Angelita was built in 1928 by owner Owen Churchill (1896-1985) with the singular purpose of winning a medal in the Olympics scheduled to be held in Los Angeles four years later—the first time the United States was to participate in yachting in the Games. He named the boat Angelita in honor of the host city. (Churchill is noted for inventing and patenting the swim fin, which has been popular with swimmers ever since.) The boat is an 8-metre Class, created at a yachting conference in Great Britain in 1907. The concept at the time was to establish different design and measurement parameters to allow boats to compete on a level basis. The 8-metre was used in Olympic competition from 1912 to 1948. Angelita was the first American boat to win a gold medal in the 1932 Olympic Games. It was a successful yachting event for the USA, in which we won two gold medals and one silver. In fairness, only one other 8-metre participated, representing Canada. Churchill later took Angelita to Kiel, Germany, for the 1936 Olympic Games, but sadly finished tenth in a ten-boat fleet.
The boat was originally designed by Nicholas Potter and built at Wilmington Boat Works in California. The hull is double-planked, mahogany over cedar, with oak frames and cedar decks. Potter started his career working with the famous three-time winner of America’s Cup, naval architect W. Starling Burgess, in the offices of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in Bristol, R.I. In the early 1920s, Potter headed to California to set up his own naval architecture practice. His unique design for Angelita was known as a “double ender,” with both a narrow bow and stern. Angelita is 50 feet long and carries a generous 800 square feet of sail area. In a strong blow, the boat can be a handful for six crew.
In 1996-1997,
For the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Peter Ueberroth, the Chair of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee, gave Churchill and Angelita special recognition by restoring the boat and putting it on display at the Games. Several years later, two American sailing enthusiasts, Samuel W. Croll III and Henry Skelsey, acquired Angelita and have been racing her in the classic yacht circuit ever since. As wooden boats need a major restoration about every thirty years, the owners commissioned a complete renovation of Angelita in the winter of 1996-97—right down to the frames.
I was honored to be invited to race Angelita for a series of regattas in New England. Our first event was the New York Yacht Club Annual cruise, followed by Nantucket Race Week, and finally the famous Opera House Cup on Nantucket Sound. Angelita won Nantucket Race Week, placed third out of 37 boats in the Opera House Cup, and received admiration at every port.
The boat looks both elegant and purposeful. The owners adhere to the importance of tradition and keep her in Bristol condition. Sailing this boat is old school; she is not filled with modern electronics and mechanical gear. Angelita is narrow at 8 feet, 8 inches, but has adequate headroom and is nicely appointed with four comfortable bunk beds, a head, and a galley.
Henry Skelsey manages a private equity firm. He and his wife Susan live in Rye, New York, in a house once owned by John and Margaret Mitchell, who were very often in the news during the Nixon and Ford administrations. Sam Croll and his wife Anne divide their time between Connecticut, Florida, and Nantucket. He is a graduate of Yale University Divinity School and manages a company that supplies engineering services for oceangoing cargo ships. For several years, Croll served as Chair of the Library Committee of the New York Yacht Club, further validating his interest in preserving the history of yachting. Both men have a passion for sailing and seem happiest aboard their beloved Angelita
Late in the afternoon on that August day, Angelita arrived in Newport after six hours of sailing. We set a spinnaker that sported the Olympic rings as we entered the harbor. I’m sure Owen Churchill would be proud of his iconic boat 95 years after being built. AH
by Kymberly Taylor
In the tender energy of early spring, a spell of sweetness rises in the air, along with the wild idea that if I could plant red tulips from Amsterdam, my life would be changed. But in truth, as the garden stretches out before me, deciding what to plant is a bit daunting. Luckily, there’s help. In their wonderful new book Enduring Gardens: The Tame and the Wild, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects have many suggestions and planting lists for four-season gardens. As I paged through, I read that Anemone x hybrida is one of spring’s early bloomers, with the power to “wake up the garden from its inertia.”
What a wonderful thought! I picture my garden taking its first precious breath as the delicate blooms of the anemone drift in the air. I learned that anemone is an ancient perennial native to China and Southeastern Europe and that it belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. The name derives from the Greek anemos, which means “wind,” and the suffix “-one,” which means “daughter of.” The Greeks nicknamed the anemone “Daughter of the Wind” because they believed it bloomed only when the wind blew. Our common name for this fluttering beauty is “windflower.”
Researchers at the Biotechnology Institute in Dalien, China, note that the anemone has long been used worldwide in folk medicine and ethnomedicine. Ongoing experiments reveal that this plant, which has more than 100 species, has anticancer properties as well as additional valuable medicinal compounds. The monks in the Middle Ages certainly valued the anemone and used its roots and leaves to heal respiratory and skin disorders. Native American tribes may have used the native Canada Anemone, A. canadensis, to treat headaches and sore throats. Keep in mind that, unlike its foreign cousin, this hardy low-growing “meadow anemone” thrives in Maryland’s river margins and moist woodlands, spreads
quickly, and can form dense colonies. While not technically “invasive,” it is considered aggressive and should be managed by pulling up its roots.
Five to ten petals frame the “eye” of the anemone, whose simple face is bright with promise. However, its biochemistry is far from simple. The anemone is nyctinastic, which means it closes at night and opens in the morning. These are my favorite kinds of flowers! I observe this phenomenon daily when my giant Oxalis triangularis, named Gloria, folds her heart-shaped leaves around 4 p.m. I am always slightly alarmed, but happy to experience a new side of my shamrock; I sense her strength and have no choice but to respect her need for rest. As I gaze at her sleeping leaflets, a strange understanding washes over me, and I am reminded that it is time to wind down my own day. I also love that Gloria opens promptly the next morning. Like the oxalis, the anemone has no choice but to unfold, and, through its clear beauty, attract and nourish pollinators and awaken not just the garden but a sense that, indeed, all things are possible.
Enduring Gardens: The Tame and the Wild by Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, campionhruby.com
Anemone medicinal plants: ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and biology from The National Library of Medicine by Da-Cheng Hao, Xiaojie Gu, Peigen Xiao, January 28, 2017 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5343163/
If you wish to see anemones in their medieval context, visit the Gardens of the Met Cloisters in northern Manhattan. Five kinds of anemones grow in the Judy Black Garden in the Cuxa Cloister. For more information, go to metmuseum.org.
ZONE: 7-10
WHEN TO PLANT: Fall
LIGHT: Full sun to partial shade
BLOOMS: Early spring
SOIL: Amended with humus
WATER: Consistently moist but not waterlogged
TIP: Soak tubers overnight before planting
The anemone is nyctinastic, closing at night and opening in the morning.
ADLER
Assorted Backgammon Game Sets
VISMARA Argo Circus
Dartboard Cabinet
IMPATIA
Tocco Marble
Pool Cue Racks
Hidden Love
Ping-Pong Paddle
POOL TABLE PORTFOLIO
AROCK Nubuck
Pool Table
by Walinda P. West
Photography by John Cole
In the leafy Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Wesley Heights, homeowners Ellen and James Patterson set out to update their 1928 Tudor-style home into one befitting modern tech executives. The renovation delivered smart speakers, app-controlled lighting, top-of-the-line kitchen appliances, and a swoon-worthy lower-level addition featuring a gym, a spa bathroom, and a speakeasy. Yet one room in that new lower level stands apart as the home’s most radical space and the one with the least technology of all: the analog room.
Neither a rejection of innovation nor a nostalgic yearning for bygone days, analog rooms are intentionally low-tech spaces designed for presence, restoration, and tactile pleasure. Think slow board games instead of video games, instruments and record players instead of playlists, books instead of screens. A space free of the constant ding of incoming messages and mindless scrolling. In an era of connected everything, the analog room asks nothing of its homeowners. For the Pattersons, that absence of technology was not a sacrifice; it was the point.
The project was designed by BarnesVanze Architects, built by CarrMichael Construction, with an interior design by Colman Riddell Interiors. “This was a team effort,” says Wayne Adams, principal at BarnesVanze Architects, who took the lead on the project. “We like the best ideas, so we collaborate as much as possible,” Adams says. “It shows in the end, driven by the team working together to give the clients what they wanted.”
The analog room emerged as part of a kitchen renovation that allowed the couple to reclaim a rarely used lower-level space beneath it. The expansion created room for the gym, lounge, bathroom, and the analog retreat, which showcases James Patterson’s Fender and Gibson guitar collection, an oversized portrait of Jimi Hendrix, and custom built-in bookshelves whose backs are lined with authentic grill cloth from the German amp maker Vox. “When the music room is not used for impromptu karaoke concerts, it easily becomes a game room for the Pattersons, where they can simply unplug,” designer Riddell adds.
In a world increasingly defined by speed and screens, the Pattersons’ analog room offers something rare: permission to be still. And within this thoughtfully updated Tudor, it stands as proof that the most forward-thinking design choice may simply be making space to just disconnect.
ARCHITECT: BarnesVanze Architects
BUILDER: CarrMichael Construction
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Colman Riddell Interiors AH
Photography by Adam Kane Macchia
When a couple began outlining the priorities for their new-build home, one request quickly rose to the top of the list: a state-of-the-art golf simulation room that would allow one of the homeowners to play world-class courses without ever leaving the house.
Rather than treating the request as a standalone amenity, J.E. Schram Architect, Delbert Adams Construction Group, and Lauren Hurlbrink Interiors embraced the idea as an opportunity to create something more immersive. The result is a golf simulation lounge that rivals those found in private country clubs, seamlessly merging advanced technology with thoughtful architectural design.
At the center of the space is a Full Swing golf simulator equipped with overhead launch monitors that accurately track swing speed, ball trajectory, and spin. A wall-to-wall projection screen renders iconic courses from sunbaked desert fairways to lush, rolling greens.
Yet it is the room’s atmosphere that elevates it beyond a high-tech game room. Exposed wood ceiling beams, layered lighting, and richly textured finishes soften the digital elements, giving the lounge the feel of a modern clubhouse. Plush seating and a bar-height counter encourage guests to linger, whether watching a round unfold, gathering for a movie night, or entertaining friends.
“When you walk down the steps into that room, you immediately understand how special it is,” says Gina Adams of Delbert Adams Construction Group. “It’s elegant, inviting, and exactly what the homeowners envisioned.”
With their children grown, the homeowners shifted their focus toward spaces that support personal passions and shared experiences. In doing so, the golf simulation lounge became more than a luxury; it became the centerpiece of the home, transforming a lifelong love of the game of golf into a daily ritual. AH
ARCHITECT: J.E. Schram
BUILDER: Delbert Adams Construction Group
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Lauren Hurlbrink Interiors
Photography by Marco Ricca
In Georgetown, where acclaimed restaurants and cocktail bars are not in short supply, a pair of homeowners set out to create a lounge at home that could hold its own against the neighborhood’s best. The homeowners enlisted luxury interior designer Patrick Sutton, known for his storied approach and richly layered custom interiors.
“This bar lounge was inspired by the Hemingway bar in Paris and was created to welcome guests for before-dinner cocktails and then welcome them back for late-night drinks and a good time,” says Sutton of the year-long project, completed with BarnesVanze Architects and Winchester Construction.
The space unfolds like a modern speakeasy. Warm honeyed wood paneling wraps the room, illuminated by low amber lighting that sets an intimate tone. A curved bar clad in ribbed suede is topped with creamy honey onyx, while slim pendant lights hover overhead. Deep moss-green velvet barstools introduce softness, and a mirrored backdrop amplifies the glow, reflecting glassware and brass accents in a setting designed for well-mixed drinks and long, leisurely chats.
ARCHITECT: BarnesVanze Architects
BUILDER: Winchester Construction
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Patrick Sutton AH
Our special Powerhouse Realtors section offers profiles of leading agents so that you can more easily find the best agent for you!
Erica Baker
Georgie Berkinshaw
Brad Kappel Team
Buckley Waterfront Homes
Connie Cadwell
Laura Carney
Liz Dooner
Chuck Mangold
David Orso
Snyder/Bradshaw Group
Scott Wallace
1. 1604 Winchester Road, Annapolis
$12,500,000
16 beds | 9.5 baths | 28,607 sf | 22.52 acres
Listing Agents: Brad Kappel and David Desantis, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
1. 2452 Bennett Point Road, Queenstown
$4,900,000
4 beds | 4.5 baths | 6,542 sf | 2.7 acres
Listing Agent: Moe Farley, Coldwell Banker Realty
Buyer’s Agent: Dane Ways, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. Kent Island
1. 24629 Beverly Road, St. Michaels
$7,000,000
2. 3182 Harness Creek Road, Annapolis
$9,600,000
4 beds | 5.5 baths | 5,375 sf | 1.04 acres
Listing Agent: Georgie Berkinshaw, Coldwell Banker Realty
Buyer’s Agent: Shawn Martin, Real Broker, LLC
3. 917 Arbutus Road, Annapolis
$7,900,000
5 beds | 3.5 baths | 3,945 sf | 5.03 acres
Listing Agent: Georgie Berkinshaw, Coldwell Banker Realty
2. 107 Terrapin Lane, Stevensville
$2,400,000
6 beds | 3 baths | 4,203 sf | 3.3 acres
Listing Agent: Danielle Nicol, Douglas Realty
Buyer’s Agent: Jim Corson, Benson and Mangold, LLC
2. 23762 Mount Pleasant Landing Cir., St. Michaels
$3,100,000
5 beds | 4.5 baths | 10,309 sf | 9.72 acres
Listing Agent: Meredith Fine Properties
Compiled by Elizabeth Davis
4 beds | 4.5 baths | 2,649 sf | 3.41 acres
Listing Agent: Kimberly Kepnes, Monument Sotheby’s International Realty
Buyer’s Agent: Janet Larson, Benson and Mangold, LLC
3. 7 Parsons Island View, Grasonville
$2,150,000
4 beds | 3.5 baths | 3,281 sf | 1.3 acres
Listing Agent: Biana Arentz, Coldwell Banker Realty
Buyer‘s Agent: Carol Strasfeld, Unrepresented Buyer Office
3. 28838 Jennings Road, Easton
$1,970,000
5 beds | 5.5 baths | 5,002 sf | 4.48 acres
Listing Agent: Michael Murren, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Buyer’s Agent: Rob Lacaze, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Annapolis Home Magazine is not responsible for erros, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party reporting.
1604 Winchester Road, Annapolis
Brad Kappel and David Desantis, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
24629 Beverly Road, St. Michaels Meredith Fine Properties
In 2025, nearly 75% of our Anne Arundel County listings sold at or above list price.
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I can still smell the cookies in my mother’s kitchen. Warm sugar and butter drifting through the house, settling into every room, waiting for my Dad, my sister and myself to follow the smells of cinnamon coming from the oven. I remember standing barefoot on cool tile, the afternoon light slanting through the window, the quiet hum of a place that felt alive even when no one was speaking. Homes hold moments like these without asking, absorbing laughter, arguments,
Along one wall were the pencil marks, crooked and fading, tracking how tall my sister and I grew year after year. Each line carried a date, a season, a version of us that is only a memory now. Down the hallway were scuffs from chasing our dog and each other too fast, and a doorframe that still knew the sound of small hands slamming it shut. This house knew when love felt full and when it felt fragile. It heard footsteps at night and understood what it meant to wait.
On birthdays, the living room and kitchen became a kind of miracle. I still remember my mother’s smile and my father’s big laughter, and my parents’ wide eyes watching us learning to balance for the first time riding our bicycles down the driveway. That house witnessed fear turning into confidence in a matter of seconds, which turned into years. It watched us grow older without
My mother, who has been a real estate agent for over forty years, always said homes were living things. They breathe with the families inside them, and they grieve when those families leave. When it’s time to sell a home, the question isn’t only about square footage or price. It’s about who tells its story. Because a house’s story is never empty of meaning. Someone just has
Thank You,
Every client we serve has a unique story. Guiding our clients through important real estate decisions with clarity, discretion, and strategic expertise is at the heart of what we do. Through a collaborative team approach, we provide elevated marketing, thoughtful staging, skilled negotiation, and deeply personalized service at every price point.
From first homes to legacy estates, our promise remains the same: one uncompromising standard of excellence.
Carol Snyder & Tina Bradshaw
Founders | Partners
Snyder | Bradshaw Group of Monument Sotheby’s International Realty O. 443.906.3848 | D. 410.216.0018 www.SnyderBradshaw.com
For more than 24 years David has ranked among Anne Arundel County’s top agents in total sales, a distinction earned through strategy, precision, and relentless focus on client outcomes. With a foundation in psychology, an MBA in strategic marketing, and advanced negotiation training from Harvard University, David gives his clients a measurable competitive advantage in every phase of the transaction and in every market cycle. The numbers speak for themselves: more than 1,500 families served and over 300 unsolicited FIVE STAR reviews—a track record built on results.
If you’re ready to move, work with a proven leader. Begin with a confidential conversation today!
Connie Cadwell came to Annapolis for a weekend in 1978 and discovered a whole new way of life. From that time on, Connie has been successfully helping others make the most of this exciting lifestyle. As someone who makes friends easily, she receives great pleasure from introducing you to the Annapolis lifestyle and its people, neighborhoods, events and the best crab cakes in town. Knowledgeable, trustworthy, loyal and caring are qualities that describe her well. Drawing on her market knowledge and strong community connections, trust her 40+ years of experience as a Realtor to help you make the most of your next real estate transaction.
Clients of all ages agree what sets Connie apart is her dedication to her clients and visionary approach. While her listings are among the most beautiful and unique in the state, she also has a knack for finding “hidden treasures,” homes that have been overlooked or undervalued.
Those who know Connie will tell you, there is nobody better to introduce you to the town she calls home. Her philosophy, “It’s always a great day in Annapolis!” is more than a motto. She works hard to make it true.
Laura Carney, Senior Vice President with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, is a leading expert in Eastern Shore real estate. A Talbot County native with deep ancestral ties to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Laura offers unmatched insight into the area’s evolving market. With over 30 years of experience, including time in the competitive DC metropolitan market, her professionalism and ethical approach have earned her an exceptional reputation in Talbot County.
Laura combines her local expertise with TTR Sotheby’s global reach, connecting clients worldwide to the Eastern Shore through advanced online platforms and a vast agent network. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Economics and has traveled extensively, including a Semesterat-Sea, a trans-Atlantic voyage, and the Newport-Bermuda race. Passionate about waterfront living, Laura often tours properties by boat, offering clients unique perspectives.
An active community member, Laura has served on the Talbot Humane Board of Directors and is a member of the Talbot Country Club, Miles River Yacht Club, and Talbot County Garden Club. She enjoys travel, photography, gardening, golf, and time with her family and pets, embodying the vibrant lifestyle she promotes.
Brokerage
ERICA BAKER Vice President
ABS Architects pg. 73
410.268.1213 | absarchitects.com
DiZebba & Sons pg. 67
410.923.6022 | dizebba.com
Hammond Wilson pg. 7
410.267.6041 | hammondwilson.com
Three B Architecture pg. 16
443.791.6193 | threebarchitecture.com
Bayview Builders pgs. 2-3
410.280.0303 | bayviewbuildersmd.com
Blackketter Craftsmen, Inc. pg. 108
410.923.3111 | blackcraft.com
Construction Concierge by Conestoga pg. 70 | 410.512.6800 | conciergebyconestoga.com
Delbert Adams Construction Group, LLC pg. 14 | 410.583.7575 | dacgllc.com
Gate One Builders pg. 19
410.268.0778 | gateonebuilders.com
Lundberg Builders, Inc. pg. 56
410.643.3334 | lundbergbuilders.com
Lynbrook of Annapolis pg. 11
410.295.3313 | lynbrookofannapolis.com
Maxim Building Group pg. 108
443.871.4584 | maximbuildinggroup.com
Procopio Homes pg. 63 410.551.8454 | procopiohomes.com
Winchester Construction Inside Back Cover | 410.987.5905 winchesterinc.com
W.R. Flater General Contractor, LLC pg. 70 | 410.544.9117 | wrflater.com
Younger Construction pg. 72
410.626.8602 | youngerconstruction.com
DESIGN PROFESSIONALS
Divina Lourdes Interior Design pg. 85
410.533.3259 | divinalourdesdesigns.com
Dream House Studios pg. 86 410.224.7588 | dreamhousestudios.net
Farnady Interiors pg. 15
443.822.3248 | farnadyinteriors.com
Fitzsimmons Design Associates, Inc. pg. 33 410.269.1965 | fitzsimmonsdesign.com
Interior Concepts, Inc. pg. 18 410.224.7366 | interiorconceptsinc.com
LifeStiles Design pg. 108 lifestilesdesign@gmail.com
Sew Beautiful Interiors pg. 43 410.544.3300 | sewbeautifulwindows.com
Simply Wesley Interior Design pg. 73 | 443.994.6757 | simplywesley.com
EXCLUSIVE KITCHEN OR BATH DESIGN
314 Design Studio pg. 109 410.643.4040 | 314designstudio.com
Steiner-Houck & Associates, LLC Back Cover | 410.571.5932 | steinerhouck.com
GIFTS & DÉCOR
Green & Bean Boutique pg. 108 greenbeanboutique.com
Kiti Mezani World Designs pg. 65 202.335.1618 | kitimezani.com
Nancy Hammond Editions pg. 87 410.295.6612 | nancyhammondeditions.com
84 Lumber Kitchen & Bath
Design Studio pgs. 8-9 410.757.4684 | 84designstudios.com
ADU, Your Appliance Source pg. 6 | 410.267.7110 | adu.com
Architectural Window Supply pg. 64 | 410.266.5254 | archwin.com
Blue Heron Property Services pg. 108 | 410.279.6320 blueheronpropertyservicesllc.com
Choice Stairways pg. 55
410.535.3737 | floorsandstairways.com
Elevator Works pg. 87
443.815.4900 | elevator-works.com
Elite Hardwood Flooring pg. 45 | 410.280.1420 elitehardwoodflooring.com
Gold Seal Services pg. 108 410.583.1010 | goldsealservices.com
In Home Stone Marble & Granite pg. 72 | 410.626.2025 | inhomestone.com
Town Appliance pgs. 34-35 410.364.4400 | townappliance.com
WalterWorks Hardware pg. 109 | 410.263.9711 walterworkshardware.com
Washington Window & Door Service pg. 57 301.368.4630 | dmvwindowservice.com
Weaver Superior Walls pg. 86 717.733.4823 | weaverprecast.com
Wood Ingenuity pg. 70 443.966.3464 | woodingenuity.com
Barks Road Landscape Architecture pg. 71 | 410.647.2090 | barksroad.com
Bay Pile Driving pg. 66 410.879.3121 or 888.886.1213 baypiledriving.com
Coastal Pools pg. 59 443.775.2880 | coastalpoolbuilders.net
Clinton+Ries Landscape Architects pg. 10 301.699.5600 | clintonriesla.com
Mahon Outdoor Living pg. 86 973.270.3722 | mahonlandscaping.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 pgs. 12-13 | 410.349.3105 walnuthilllandscape.com
Brad Kappel Team of TTR|Sotheby’s International Realty pgs. 92-93 m. 410.279.9476 | o. 410.280.5600 bradkappel.com
Buckley Waterfront Homes of Long & Foster Real Estate pgs. 96-97 d.410.266.6880 | o. 410.260.2801 waterfronthomes.org
Chuck Mangold of Benson & Mangold Real Estate pgs. 98-99 c. 410.924.8832 | o. 410.882.6665 chuckmangold.com
Connie Cadwell of Coldwell Banker Realty pg. 105 | c. 410.693.1705 | o. 410.263.8686 conniecadwell.com
David Orso of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices PenFed Realty pg. 104 c. 443.691.0838 | o. 410.777.9243 davidorso.com
Erica Baker of TTR|Sotheby’s International Realty pg. 107 m. 410.919.7019 | o. 410.280.5600 ericabaker.co
Georgie Berkinshaw & Jean Berkinshaw Dixon of Coldwell Banker Realty pgs. 100-101 | gb. 443.994.4456 jbd. 443.995.2791 | o. 410.263.8686 gberkinshaw.com
Glenn M. Sutton of TTR|Sotheby’s International Realty pg. 44 m. 410.507.4370 | o. 410.280.5600 glennsutton.ttrsir.com/eng
Laura Carney of TTR|Sotheby’s International Realty pg. 106 m. 410.310.3307 | o. 410.673.3344 lauracarney.com
Liz Dooner of Coldwell Banker Realty pg. 103 c. 410.725.8973 | o. 410.263.8686 | lizdooner.com
Scott Wallace of Coldwell Banker Realty pgs. 94-95 | m. 410.991.5627 | o. 410.263.8686 scott.wallace@cbrealty.com
Snyder Bradshaw Group of Monument Sotheby’s International Realty pg. 102 | o. 443.906.3848 d. 410.216.0018 | snyderbradshaw.com
Gramophone pgs. 4-5 | gramophone.com
Maddox Audio Visual Design pg. 73 | maddoxav.com
