Chip Bohl is the mastermind architect behind this beautifully designed home that borrows the shapes of a traditional, vernacular farmhouse with the open, modern feel of a contemporary.
The surroundings framed the design concept for the house and set the tone for what would eventually emerge from the six-month design phase. “We wanted to capture those views with a seamless flow from the interior to the exterior,” says Bohl. The design team worked from a clean slate on the ten-acre site but when the project started, new construction wasn’t in the cards. “We were looking with a real estate agent at existing properties,” says the homeowner, “ideally we wanted an older house that needed some work.”
Disappointed with the available choices, the agent steered them toward a site with the wide-open views the family was seeking. “You come through this heavily wooded area to an open space that is right there on the Chesapeake Bay,” says Bohl. A driveway was already in place on the site and the location reminded the homeowner of past summers spent in sailing camp.
With the perfect location found, attention turned toward the design process. “We met with Chip and carried in dozens and dozens of tear sheets,” says the homeowner. “We wanted something that would marry the shape of a traditional, vernacular farmhouse with the open, modern feel of a contemporary.”
Bohl poured over sketches on cocktail napkins and magazine clippings while designing a home to inspire delight yet still blend in with its surroundings. “I was looking at industrial buildings, fishing shacks, and other relics of the Eastern Shore,” says Bohl. The results of the research can be seen in the shape of simple, straight-ahead house forms and a sharply pitched roof structure riding over the home’s great room. “If you look at the part of the house above the porch, that’s basically the shape of a farmhouse, only it’s floating over the porch,” says Bohl.
A relaxing sitting area near the double-sided fireplace in this screened-in porch opens to the house by way of floor-to-ceiling gliding glass doors.
Naturally, the home has a front entrance but all the magic happens out back. “We usually come in through the side door that leads into the kitchen, says the homeowner, “nothing about this house is formal.” The family wanted a strong connection to the outside but Bohl was also keenly aware of the elements. “We needed to provide shelter for a hostile environment, the wind coming off the bay from the northwest can feel like razor blades and the summer sun can be brutal,” he says. To keep Mother Nature under control without losing views to the outdoors, the design called for the porch spilling into a spacious, open-plan living area.
Depending on the weather, the great room can be sealed off from the screened-in porch by oversized, gliding glass doors. “We didn’t want an easy definition of interior walls,” says Bohl, “so we used three panel glass doors that slide into a pocket behind the fireplace.”
When the conditions favor balmy breezes, the space can be opened up and
protected from the animal kingdom by sliding insect-proof panels. A
selection of comfy yet chic furnishings give the place that all-important ad
hoc feel that really makes a second home work. The porch is kept toasty on
cool nights by a double-sided fireplace and the room also offers views of
the swimming pool. There’s a sitting area in front of the hearth and a
casual set of table and chairs for having breakfast on the bay.
The home’s dining room is nestled into an all-glass corner and is defined
by a vintage set of table and chairs. A corner of the room is devoted to the
homeowner’s collection of antique cameras, artfully displayed along with a
vintage print as an homage to her love of fine art photography.
The rustic comforts inside are defined by a ceiling of exposed trusses finished in a soothing off-white.
The rustic comforts inside are defined by a ceiling of exposed trusses finished in a soothing off-white. Flooring in the kitchen and living space is lumber reclaimed from tobacco barns. The fireplace hearths and porch floor is tiled in “Belgian Bluestone,” also known as “petit granite” or “java stone.”
The material has a storied, nautical history as it was once used as ballast in sailing ships. When the ship arrived to its destination, the stone was offloaded with its weight replaced by cargo. The stone was then put to use by other cultures-in this case it serves as a striking floor tile.
More distressed lumber adorns the island countertop and surrounds a distinctive, rectangular, second sink. “We use that as an entertainment and prep sink,” says the homeowner. “I can face the water and clean vegetables, then we fill the sink with ice and drinks.” The kitchen’s main sink is positioned next to the fridge and employs a gooseneck fixture for filling pasta pans and crab pots.
Two base cabinets flanking the range are topped with honed, black granite. The matte finish adds to the casual tone of the kitchen while resisting fingerprints. Stock-size cabinets were kept uncomplicated, just as they would be in a traditional farmhouse. “I wanted something clean and simple,” says the homeowner, plus we didn’t want to spend a lot of money on cabinets.”
A flash of vivid color is supplied by the backsplash done in a blue ceramic tile laid horizontally in a wider length than typical, white subway tile. The tile’s finish is also purposely slightly irregular-once again adding to the new yet old vibe. “We chose the color because it reminded me of all that water just outside,” says the homeowner.
This small powder room is accented with bluestone flooring.
There’s a small powder room off the kitchen, a location perfect for guests changing into swimming togs. The bluestone floor connects the room to the larger spaces outside and a mosaic weave-patterned tile provides an accent wall for the compact space. Trough-style sinks were used in all the bathrooms in the house. Freestanding storage units under the bathroom sinks make up for the loss of vanity space and their galvanized steel construction resists corrosion in damp environments.
Construction of the home went fairly smoothly and was completed in less than a year, with the family checking on progress by driving out from their primary residence on Capitol Hill. “On Fridays at lunch time we were out of there,” says the homeowner. “I’m sure there were things we were stressed out about during the construction but now, I don’t even remember them.”
Bohl says his own challenges were centered on getting the home’s proportions figured out. “It’s not a big house to start with,” he says, “so we had to take a medium sized house and break it down into a series of small parts.” The project was simplified by the way that the architect and the client teamed up on the design. “It’s nice to work with clients who have a good eye and who are experienced with thinking in three dimensions,” says Bohl, “this house was all about the fun.”
Scott Sowers is a frequent contributor to Chesapeake Home.