Heron Point
Back to Practice AreaThis coastal country retreat is nestled in a wooded enclave on a creekfront, picturesque peninsula lot with mature trees, a charming guest cottage, and resident herons on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Perched on this waterfront knoll, an existing cottage occupied the property’s preferred spot, where the owners envisioned a larger but intimate dream home for entertaining family and future retirement.
These prime waterfront areas of the site, otherwise unbuildable due to critical area constraints, made way for the new residence, thanks to footprint grandfathering of the existing cottage and patios. The existing cottage was relocated to another area of the property. The “U” shaped layout was conceived to mimic shoreline limits, intended to capture panoramic water views from every room in this narrow-width house design, bathing the interior spaces in natural light. Generously proportioned rooms maintain a charming intimacy rarely found in a large, new residence.
Gambrelled roof lines of a new barn on site were also integrated into the main house design, yielding an agrarian vernacular to the country manor house aesthetic and a cohesive flow through all the buildings on the site. Hardie-shingle siding, wide white trim, maximized fenestration, and simple detailing blend the home with its’ Atlantic coastal environs. Ipe`, stone, copper accents, carriage style doors, handcrafted lanterns, and a barn red exterior add to the seamless fusion of country and coastal style.
Timeless materials of wide plank cherry and pine floors, natural stone, marble, slate, aged mirrors, and distressed wood cabinetry exude the patina of a home that has existed for decades. A thread of refined French Country details flows from the custom kitchen and bar throughout all areas and details of the home. A well-thought-out use of both antique and modern lighting and plumbing fixtures, hardware, tiles, and other furnishings and antiquities creates an updated, clean appeal while paying homage to all the parts of this “old” feeling new house.