AHM Nov/Dec 2022

Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects

David Burroughs Photography

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Wine Cellar

Steve Buchanan Photography

You Deserve The Best.

If real estate agents charge about the same fee then why wouldn’t you hire the absolute best to represent you? Similar fee with different client outcomes doesn’t seem fair. The market has shifted and the stakes have been raised which make it paramount to hire the professional you deserve; the very best in their field. David Orso is celebrating his 20th year in real estate which has led to a curated system for maximum client outcomes for both sellers and buyers. Since 2013, David Orso has been the #1 agent in Anne Arundel County for total real estate sales. This unprecedented accomplishment is wholly due to his CEO level marketing and negotiation skills combined with his deep commitment to superior client outcomes. When asked his secret to year over year elite performance he stated, “When my clients win; I win. Always in that order.” This new market requires more than glamour shots and a couple good years during the real estate boom. Now is the time to evaluate your potential real estate representation closely and dig deep into their experience in challenging markets.

You deserve the best... so hire the best.

Elevate Everything

Wiedemann

Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410.266.5254 www.archwin.com

Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410.266.5254 www.archwin.com

The Right Mix in Murray Hill

Marina Luxury on Spa Creek

In this unusual planned community, 11 luxury residences, a marina, and boatyard co-exist, wrapped in terraced rain gardens and perennials.

Photograph by David Burroughs

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 Office Manager

Amber Trainer

Photographers

David Burroughs

Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Geoffrey Hodgdon

Matt Ryb

Jenn Verrier

Donna Weaver

Joseph Weaver

Writers

Christine Fillat Dylan Roche

Copy Editor

Patricia Stainke

Annapolis Home is published bimonthly by Taylor Haywood Media, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without express written consent of the publishers. Publishers disclaim any and all responsibility for omissions and errors.

Publishers disclaim any and all responsibility for an advertiser’s products, services, or claims. The views expressed in this magazine are solely those of the writer.

All rights reserved.

© 2022 by Taylor Haywood Media, LLC.

PUBLISHERS’ LETTER

Welcome to the Winter issue of Annapolis Home Magazine! With the chilly weather upon us, it is time to come indoors and do some serious hunkering in... a term I learned from my daughter Izzy who lives in Alaska. We do not have sub-zero temperatures or bears to worry about, but we have learned that our winter may be more severe than usual. Since you may find yourself indoors, hopefully in front of a crackling fire, our issue may help while away the hours. As you relax and browse through our pages, you will find stories about the raw power of architecture and design to transform spaces in ways both dramatic and subtle. For drama, turn to “Marina Luxury on Spa Creek” and read about a townhome overlooking a bustling marina, where residents can moor their boat just steps away from the back door.  For a more subtle yet equally substantial transformation, check out our story about a family home in Rugby Hall, where traditional forms are manipulated in fresh ways. For something in between, turn to “The Right Mix,” a story about a historic home in Murray Hill filled with intriguing juxtapositions of colors and furnishings.

All of the different architectural styles and interiors in this issue reveal so much talent in our city and region; it is a beautiful and exciting phenomenon. We can hardly wait to get started on our next issue. But leave that to us... For now, put the kettle on for tea and enjoy!

Kymberly Taylor & Robert Haywood

Publishers

kymberly@annapolishomemag.com | robert@annapolishomemag.com

For subscriptions, visit annapolishomemag.com

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

For advertising inquiries, contact Elizabeth Davis at edavis@annapolishomemag.com or call 443.618.2201

For mailing, contact ahm@annapolishomemag.com

Photo by Donna Weaver

Robert’s Picks

Annapolis

Classic Theatre of Maryland presents White Christmas

This stage adaptation of the beloved 1954 film features the assorted music of Irving Berlin set to a heartwarming story about two showmen and a duo of singing sisters working together to mount a Christmas Eve performance. See it at Classic Theatre of Maryland from November 25 through December 24. | classictheatremaryland.org

Holiday Pops with the ASO

This all-ages holiday concert—set this year for December 16 at 8:00PM—features a little bit of something for everyone. The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra has put together an assortment of favorite holiday music, including recognizable pieces and lesser-known surprises. Get tickets early, because this popular tradition always sells out. | annapolissymphony.org/events/holidaypops-aso

A Dutch-American Christmas Combining a bit of history with holiday cheer, A Dutch-American Christmas on December 17 at the Hammond Harwood House offers holiday stories and craft time for families with children, all amid the decorated ballroom of an 18th-century mansion. | hammondharwoodhouse.org/event/ a-dutch-american-christmas-2

Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents The Nutcracker

What’s the holiday season without a performance of this seasonal favorite? Rediscover your childlike sense of wonder with Maryland’s premier professional ballet company as they bring the story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince to Maryland Hall on the weekends of December 10-11 and 17-18. | balletmaryland.org/nutcracker

Eastern Shore

Christmas in St. Michaels

This weekend-long event, set for December 9-11 this year, involves festive activities all around the historic city of St. Michaels, including music performances, meals, appearances by Santa Claus, a parade, and tours of decorated homes. | christmasinstmichaels.org/

Dickens of a Christmas

Get into the spirit of the season at this annual Victorian-themed holiday extravaganza in Chestertown on December 2 and 3. You’ll enjoy live performances, carriage rides, and shopping with artisan vendors. Attendees are encouraged to dress in Victorian attire to create an immersive Dickensian experience. | mainstreetchestertown. org/dickens

Festival of the Trees to benefit Talbot Hospice

With a theme of “Joy Around the World” this year, the Festival of Trees brings together 50 festively trimmed evergreens sponsored by individuals and businesses at the Tidewater Inn of Easton. Stop by between November 26 and 29 to admire the displays and even buy one of the trees for sale to benefit Talbot Hospice. | talbothospice.org/ winter-festival/the-festival-of-trees

Metro D.C.

Mount Vernon by Candlelight

On Fridays and Saturdays from November 25 through December 18, visit George Washington’s historic Mount Vernon home, where you can take a candlelit guided tour and learn about the holiday traditions of 18th-century Virginia. You’ll even have the chance to enjoy periodappropriate dancing, caroling, and refreshments. | mountvernon.org/ plan-your-visit/calendar/events/mount-vernon-by-candlelight

National Christmas Tree Lighting

This 100-year-old tradition of lighting the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. brings together spectators and prestigious entertainers for a highly anticipated holiday season celebration. Tickets to view the official lighting on December 11 are competitive and determined via lottery, but the tree will be available for public viewing in the weeks following the ceremony. | thenationaltree.org

National Philharmonic Chorale performs Handel’s Messiah

The prestigious National Philharmonic Chorale lends its talents to Handel’s timeless holiday oratorio, Messiah, featuring the instantly recognizable “Hallelujah Chorus.” This one-night engagement takes place on December 17 at the Strathmore. | nationalphilharmonic.org/ event/messiah-strathmore

It’s the holiday season, so we have assembled area events that are sure to lift your spirits.

Mount Vernon by Candlelight

Anderson and his team rebuilt the marina with showers and a state-of-the-art power grid. The seawall is higher than usual, designed to endure hurricanes such as Isabella, the most severe storm recorded in Annapolis. In an effort to protect the seabed, fixed piers are replaced with floating piers that require fewer pilings and adjust to fluctuating tides. Photo by Matt Ryb.

Marina Luxuryon Spa Creek

By Kymberly Taylor Photography by Jenn Verrier

In the water-facing spaces, a mindful blend of neutrals ensures there is little to detract from water views. Bold colors are used in rooms without views.

An elliptical stair connects all three levels, inviting discovery; walls painted Diamond White by Benjamin Moore reflect light, and contrast vividly with black trimwork.

The words “luxury home” and “marina” are not often uttered in the same breath. Indeed, most marinas are rather rugged, diesel-infused affairs, with heavy machinery, 12-ton boats, and utilitarian buildings scattered about. However, the home pictured here, with its custom millwork, diamond-white walls, and elliptical stair, overlooks a marina with a different aesthetic: the South Annapolis Yacht Centre, the first major development on Eastport’s Spa Creek in the last 50 years. Lined with terraces of natural grasses, Ipe boardwalks, floating docks, and 74 boat slips, the Centre has 11 residences to the east. To the west are boatyard and maritime businesses.

The refined ambiance of its approximately four- to ninemillion-dollar homes and lush grounds reflects this once bluecollar neighborhood’s inevitable ascent to affluence. Behind the scenes here, you will find technology, creativity, and an acute environmental consciousness that reflects today’s concern for the Chesapeake Bay. This modern marina’s aesthetic is defined not just by a great view but also by the ability to stroll from one’s couch to one’s boat, “parked” steps away from the back door.

However, it was not always like this. Ten years ago, the site was occupied by the beloved but decaying Sarles Boatyard and Marina, circa 1924, and old Petrini’s Shipyard, built in 1947. Unfortunately, all businesses have a lifespan. Rusting pilings, faulty roofs, broken concrete, and tanks holding waste products buried underground signaled demise. With aging trees, eroding shoreline, and rogue grasses flecked with peeling paint, even the ground seemed troubled.

Fortunately, Bret Anderson, founder of Pyramid Builders and the force behind South Annapolis Yacht Centre, saw beyond the wreckage. Out of this wasteland, a picture arose in his mind: a mariner’s village, respectful of the environment and the architecture of Eastport, with spacious residences woven into the tapestry of a boutique marina, where residents could engage with Spa Creek and Annapolis’ historic nautical culture. To respect and honor Sarles’ historic presence, a replica of the original shed remains.

The plan met resistance, and the days were arduous. “People wanted the space to be much more public. We created a marina because people who want to be here have some expectations; they elect not to stay at a public marina. We wanted to offer privacy, serenity, and security; to find that right balance was challenging,” reflects Anderson. Other waterfront communities in Eastport are gated and secured, so designing for privacy is not an anomaly.

Did he have moments of doubt? “I would say there were a lot of those moments in between… but never to the point of its wavering…. The obstacles, the challenges, the discussions here are too numerous to count,” says Anderson. One vivid memory does stand out: they removed 46 trailers filled with waste and toxic materials, he recalls. On a daily basis, clouds of dust, fibers, and dirt permeated the atmosphere and every surface. “It was a debris field,” he says simply.

Those days are over, and many good things are in place. Unlike most of the 50 marinas in the Annapolis area built over the past 20 years, the Centre is equipped with a bioretentive matrix. A

“Out of this wasteland, a picture arose in his mind: a mariner’s village, respectful of the environment and the architecture of Eastport....”

The brushed steel range hood and Viking range with signature red knobs is framed by twin light fixtures.

Bolder colors and strong furnishings, such as this blue-grey bar, enliven the interior.

ribbon of plants composed of hundreds of thousands of grasses, perennials, trees, and shrubs threads through the property, notes Kevin Campion of Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, the firm hired to mastermind the landscape design plan. Walnut Hill Landscape Company installed the plantings. “The plantings are deeply rooted and hold the stormwater. This creates an organic sponge designed to absorb 100 percent of the first inch of stormwater, the first flush where the most grime and pollutants run right into the bay,” he explains. Things were in bad shape. “This is the story of a tired marina that did not have the means to support the stormwater goals; the site was faltering and neglected,” he notes.

He has a point. Both Sarles Marina and Petrini’s Shipyard were built before the advent of critical area laws and strict environmental codes. “It was like a mini-superfund site, with trailer after trailer hauling away toxic waste products and materials,” recalls Campion.

The goal was to mitigate further damage and encourage clean water and soil renewal. On the street-facing side of the complex is an upland meadow composed of eastern red cedar, willow, and oak. “We wanted to create a strong neighborhood canopy quickly,” says Campion. Flowering trees and a sea of grasses anchor the soil and minimize maintenance. Swaths of grass connect all parts of the Centre and create a cohesive composition. In between each pair of units, plants shelter small wildlife, blossom, go to seed, and encourage winter interest, beckoning the visitor to interact.

A natural landscape teeming with plants and pollinators was always part of the plan, says Anderson. The idea for the Centre grew from his travels in South Florida and the Caribbean, where small villages, marinas, and nature co-exist in a cheerful yet organized chaos. “I saw how all these incredible entities worked in harmony:

the marina element, the commercial, the residences…. If those can be designed and brought together in the right way, it creates not just a great setting; it’s a wonderful lifestyle,” he says.

Sarah Favrao, senior associate at ABS Architects, the architecture firm that designed the complex, understood Anderson’s vision, as did managing principal Jay Schwarz. Relying on his 30 years of experience in Annapolis, he had to “run the gauntlet of the city” and navigate complex, critical area permitting and zoning laws to bring the project to fruition.

Anderson and the team decided to paint the structures a timeless white with classic black roofs and trim, a dual nod to the coastal north and mid-Atlantic seaboard, the austere simplicity of coastal villages such as Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Also, the design responds to the Eastport vernacular, explains Favrao. “This was a town of bungalows, farmhouses, and fishing shacks. There is variety in the windows, roofs are pitched, and there are different roof styles: some gabled, others hipped.” Favrao sums things up this way: “Our way of responding was to honor the scale of the existing fabric and also not design things stuck in history… people want bigger closets, light, and view.”

In each unit, the classic and the contemporary merge. The many luxury appointments include oversized windows, walk-in closets, soaking tubs, and custom kitchens, Favrao points out. One of the interior designers, Roberta Nock of Bobbi Nock Interiors, worked with the homeowners on everything from furnishings and finishes to floors and hardware. Upon close inspection, there are subtle classical nautical details, such as the millwork you might see in a fine Nantucket home. The flooring is especially distinguished. “We used wide plank natural oak floors and turned boards to bring another element of design and warmth to each level,” she says. What makes the space exciting from a design perspective is

The lower-level bar/game room has a moody, fun feel as blues combine with brass, bold rugs, and a mix of furnishings.

The upper terraces for the homeowner adapt to the needs of modern lifestyles, with a neat patch of lawn and native plants. The lower terrace fronting the boardwalk is the hardworking sponge, says landscape architect Kevin Campion.

Photo by David Burroughs.

the combination of white and bold colors. “We used white in the rooms with views of the water and bolder colors in rooms without the water views,” she explains.

Aside from the view, the element that makes the space truly stand out is the elliptical staircases connecting all three stories, creating an easy, carefree feel. “It draws you to want to keep exploring both upper and lower living spaces,” says Nock. Slightly formal yet contemporary, they banish any thought of a cliché beach home, thanks to Favrao’s vision for visually uncomplicated spaces that foster creativity.

Located at 750 Boucher Avenue, the Centre is flanked by many fine homes and renovated watermen’s cottages to the west. On the other side of the Eastport Bridge, residential waterfront complexes include Chesapeake Landing and The Tecumseh. Docks and boats are at the ready for homeowners. However, with its close proximity to the water and immediate visual and physical access to the docks, the Centre goes a step further.

Boardwalks encourage movement; there is a fine, nuanced order. For example, when lifted, all boat motors face the same way and are strategically half-hidden by pilings. The dwellings are distinguished by a balance of light, air, and proportion; these are the elements of all fine architecture, explains Schwarz.

And this may be what is at work here: an unconscious golden ratio grounds the complex yet buoys the spirits, encouraging a deeper connection to the creek.

There is something more: the waterfront always brings surprises, and marinas have a habit of attracting the most unusual people. When you combine the two, life at the Centre is never boring. Boats of all sizes abound, with a classic Picnic Boat named Wine Down floating near a 110-ft. yacht called Summer Love. Clearly, adventure calls in a typical Eastport fashion. AH

ARCHITECT: ABS Architects, absarchitects.com, Annapolis, Maryland | CUSTOM BUILDER: Bret Anderson, Pyramid Builders, pyramid-builders.com, Annapolis, Maryland | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Kevin Campion, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, campionhruby.com, Annapolis, Maryland | LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION: Walnut Hill Landscape Company, walnuthilllandscape.com, Annapolis, Maryland | INTERIOR DESIGNER: Roberta Nock, Bobbi Nock Interiors, bobbinockinteriors.com | CIVIL ENGINEER: Bay Engineering, Inc., bayengineering.com, Annapolis, Maryland | FLOORING: Installed by Elite Hardwood Flooring, elitehardwoodflooring.com, Annapolis, Maryland; fabricated by Burchette and Burchette

The bioretentive matrix includes an upland meadow on the street-facing side of the complex planted with trees and thousands of native grasses and blooming perennials. Photo by David Burroughs

Design with Distinction.

Built in 1930, this Dutch Colonial in historic Murray Hill is from a ready-to-build home kit sold in catalogues such as Sears.

The Right Mix

A FRESH TAKE ON TRADITIONAL IN MURRAY HILL

BY DYLAN ROCHE PHOTOGRAPHY BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

Blues and whites appear in fresh combinations and are both nostalgic and contemporary.

The bright green plate with

colonial patina is boldly situated against patterned wallpaper.

This home is Colorful Sophisticated—sophisticated yet not overly formal, colorful and textured while skillfully coordinated. Cathy Newman of C. Newman Interiors knew this would be her approach when she started to design a residence in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Annapolis. Her concept of colorful sophisticated reflects a sort of classic, timeless style without any stuffiness or stiltedness. Instead, it’s comfortable, a place that’s equally suited to entertaining as it is to raising a busy family.

“We had to find the right mix of how to keep it elegant and sophisticated, yet still lovable and friendly and welcoming,” Newman says.

its

Built in 1930, this Dutch colonial home is from the tradition of ready-to-build home kits popular during that era and sold through catalogues such as Sears. With elevations and floor plans similar to the Glen Falls models by Sears, it was one of the larger and grander selections available at the time. It fits in nicely with the varying architectural styles of historic Murray Hill, a neighborhood formally established in the 1890s on land that once belonged to Annapolitan lawyer James Murray.

“The main thing was not to strip away the charm,” Newman says. “We wanted to focus on details that felt relevant to the home— the molding, the millwork. We wanted to keep it from feeling too modern.”

Newman achieved a skillful balancing act by ensuring the home’s many elements came together well—so much so that the owners,

Matt and Mary Turner, say they have trouble pinpointing any favorite room in the house or favorite aspect of the design. Instead, for Matt, it’s all about the overall effect. “I love the home’s finished design because it never bores,” he says. “It’s like enjoying lots of characters in a good story, but it’s all in one book.”

Throughout the home, traditional décor elements pair with bold, playful ones, and every nook, cranny, and odd space is created for comfort. The dining room features bold floral wallpaper with a linen ceiling. Although its large windows and doorways evoke a sense of openness, the floor-to-ceiling curtains and newly installed pocket doors can instantly transform the space into a secluded retreat, ideal for a cozy dinner party or a glass of wine.

Similarly, the predominance of white in the kitchen feels clean and modern, but a colorful rug and Roman shades usher personality to

Every nook and cranny of this Dutch Colonial home from the 1930s is created with comfort in mind.

Molding and millwork are highlighted by wall sconces that ensure the home does not look too modern.

In the dining room, bold elements are paired with the traditional; the wallpapered spaces become playful rather than stodgy.

In the bedroom, textures and patterns continue, but in more soothing combinations.

the room. Textiles enliven the formal living room, where the rug served as a starting point for the rest of the design. Newman notes that the rug is traditional but not stodgy, and its dark color— which echoes the dark color of the restored fireplace—is offset by the light draperies, the off-white sofa, and the woven upholstery of the chairs.

A striking presence in the living room is the custom-built bar with its Italian marble top, beautiful door detailing, and unique hardware. The bar has the appearance of a piece of furniture. At the same time, it provides all the space needed for serving refreshments as well as storage space for the wine the Turners enjoy.

Once an open deck, the sunroom off the living room had to be closed in—one of many renovations by builder Jack Frazer of

Frazer Company. “Doing home improvement is a whole new thing when you’re taking something apart and putting it back together,” Frazer says.

“Some parts of this, particularly the front porch, were like putting together a puzzle.” For him to succeed with renovations like turning the porch into a walled-in sunroom, he had to have an idea of how it would fit in with the rest of the house, he explains.

In the case of the sunroom, the space serves as a natural extension off the living room—one with plenty of natural light where the rug and pillows on the sofa introduce a bold personality. The reclaimed antique brick flooring distinguishes the room from the rest of the house. “I love the way it looks because it’s got some patina and gives it some history,” Newman says. “It has texture and an interesting pattern. No two bricks look the same.”

Jewel-toned wallpaper is juxtaposed with traditional wainscoting drenched in green.

Opposite the sunroom, on the other side of the living room, another small sitting area awaits. An L-shaped sofa fits the room perfectly, maximizing the space, and colorful wallpaper brings lightness and fun. “It’s an elegant space without being boring by any stretch of the imagination,” Newman says.

The design works consistently and does double duty: it’s beautiful while also being functional. Its many elements have interest and lend themselves to comfort. It has moments of surprise in every room and at every turn. This is a house with personality and character—stylish and friendly. Or, as Newman puts it, colorful sophisticated. AH

ARCHITECT: Jim Sutter | CUSTOM BUILDER: Jack Frazer, Frazer Company | INTERIOR DESIGNER: Cathy Newman, C. Newman Interiors, cnewmaninteriors.com, Annapolis, Maryland | LANDSCAPE: Walnut Hill Landscape Company, walnuthilllandscape.com, Annapolis, Maryland

SOURCES:

LIVING ROOM

Curtains – Scalamandre fabric

Coffee Table – Woodbridge

Armchair – Chaddock with Romo fabric

Wall Paint Color – Sherwin Williams Intellectual Gray

SUNROOM

Sofa – Custom with Kravet fabric

Wall Paint – Sherwin Williams Roycroft Rose

DINING ROOM

Wallpaper – F. Schumacher

Table – Woodbridge

Chairs – Vanguard with Lee Jofa fabric

Chandelier – Circa

Transform Ordinary into Extraordinary.

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Maddox Audio Video Design is a full-service home automation company that caters to the needs of discerning clientele. If you can imagine it, we can do it! Let us help you create a smarter home today.

During the Victorian era, dahlias were a symbol of commitment and an everlasting union. To this day, they have come to represent inner strength, creativity, and elegance.

The High-Heeled Gardener

DREAMING OF

Dahlias

BY KYMBERLY TAYLOR

I will never forget when I saw my first dahlia: a brilliant red 14-inch flower towered above my head, with hundreds of individual florets bound to a golden center. The glossy giant, nodding on its magnificent stem, seemed to speak a language spun from an extravagant and kind land. The bloom was so perfect it seemed artificial as if tended by elves or Lilliputians. I did learn that the dahlia is not tended by elves. However, it is studied and grown by an equally intense invisible subculture, the dahliaphiles.

Larry Smith, a grower from Oregon and a self-styled “dahliaphile,” has grown and exhibited prize-winning dahlias for 30 years. Along with its mesmerizing colors, the dahlia is beloved for its long blooming cycle. “The gladiola is lovely, but it blooms once, and that’s all you get. The dahlia doesn’t stop until late Fall,” he says.

Dahlias thrive under the right conditions. Plant their tubers directly in the ground in early spring in organic soil that receives six hours of sun. Stake them and do not overwater. In the Fall, lift out the tubers, and store them in a paper grocery bag in your basement.

Are dahlias hard to grow? I have heard this from many gardeners. Not so, says Smith. They just need a little care. “Honestly… for me, its persistence and failure to give in when something goes wrong. I feed the soil with natural products; I use horticultural oils to treat the bugs that ruin the form…. You don’t want one bad petal,” he explains.

A senior judge for the American Dahlia Society, Smith is not just a dahliaphile but something more charged: an addict. A pusher! “If you grow dahlias and get into it, you become addicted. Once you become an addict, you get infected and then want to infect others and become a pusher. So, I am an addict and pusher.”

It is easy to see why Smith and others become users. Dahlias come in hundreds of color combinations and approximately 19 different forms. These include the pom-pom, peony, cactus, powder puff, and water lily. Bloom sizes range from petite two-inch lollipop-sized blooms to impressive 14-inch “dinnerplate” blossoms.

Smith’s addiction has paid off. Last month he won “Best in Show” at the National Dahlia Show in Reston,

Virginia. His prize-winning dahlia is a hot pink micro called “U2 Ania,” which has prolific blooms—as many as 40 per plant. Like a true pusher, he cannot stop talking about the dahlia and how lucky we are to have it in America.

The dahlia is native to Mexico, where it grew abundantly in the wild, blanketing the high plains and volcanic slopes. Some ‘tree dahlias’ grew 20’ tall! In Mesoamerica, indigenous peoples consumed the dahlia’s tubers, harvested the plant for medicinal purposes, and used its hollow stems for irrigation. However, it was the Spaniards who shared them with the world.

The first contact between the indigenous civilizations of Mesoamerica and Europeans took place during the reign of Prince Moctezuma II, the sixth emperor of the Aztec Empire, who ruled from 1502 to 1550. During the conquest of Mexico in 1550, the Prince died in one of the early battles, but the botanists accompanying the conquistadors became fascinated with the dahlia discovered in his highly sophisticated gardens.

One of Moctezuma’s lush gardens in Huaxtepec, renowned as a paradise, spanned six miles and contained many rare specimens of both flowers and herbs from all regions of the kingdom. Phil Clark, who led early gardening expeditions to Mexico and edited Horticulture, notes that the double-flowered dahlia and marigold were most likely cultivated by the Prince’s highly skilled gardeners.

For unexplained reasons that continue to be the subject of scholarly study, the seeds of the dahlia did not reach Europe until approximately 1788, when botanist Antonio José Cavanilles of

Madrid received dahlia seeds from Mexico City. It was Cavanilles who grew the first European dahlias and shared them first with France and then with major horticulture centers in Europe. He gave the dahlia its formal name in commemoration of Andreas Dahl, a Swedish botanist and pupil of the renowned Carl Linnaeus.

Dahlias became a sensation in the Victorian garden and rose to cult status, according to the National Dahlia Society. Their first notable fans? None other than Queen Victoria, Marie Antoinette, who grew them at Versailles, and Empress Josephine, who proclaimed the dahlia was her favorite flower.

I am glad that Smith said to continue to grow dahlias, despite setbacks. I won’t lie to you: I have had my ups and downs. However, my colleague Elizabeth Davis has re-invigorated my love for them, especially when she marched into the office with ‘Rockstar,’ a huge magenta dahlia with a poufy pom-pom center that looks otherworldly. “Dahlias get such a bad rap, but they are incredible. They give Fall that special jolt,” she says.

Whose garden doesn’t need a jolt in the Fall? Take your jolt inside. Plant dahlias with different sizes, forms, and colors in the same garden—these spectacular cut flowers look amazing in a vase! Maybe the Spaniards were the first dahliaphiles. Or, perhaps it was Prince Moctezuma. Surely as he strolled his lush pleasure gardens, he never dreamed the dahlia would cross the ocean, produce over 57,000 varieties, and enchant thousands of gardeners, including quiet addicts, ready to seize upon the newest hybridized form.

Dont's & Do's

DON’T OVERWATER

Overwatering will kill your beautiful dahlia. Young dahlia plants do not need a lot of water; in fact, excessive water can cause the plant to rot. A good rule of thumb for larger plants is to water if the rainfall is less than one inch in seven days. Pots require more regular watering.

DON’T FORGET TO STAKE YOUR DAHLIA

I think this is the most important rule. If you do not stake your plant, it will loop and arch artistically, but the flowers will face downwards. And they are tender, so once they are grown, they are almost impossible to manipulate.

DO TIE YOUR PLANT

Tie your plant to the stake several times as it grows. The first tie should secure the lower portion of the plant’s stalk to the stake. Subsequent ties should secure the branches.

DO DEADHEAD

Deadhead and cut your flowers to produce more. Remove the outer two buds from the three that develop at the end of each branch. While that reduces the total number of flowers, many flowers remain, and those show up well on the plant.

For guidance on choosing the right dahlia for your garden and a list of suppliers, consult The Big List at www.coloradodahlias.net

For a list of the top 50 dahlias for 2021, go to The American Dahlia Society www.dahlia.org.

Unparalleled beauty, craftsmanship and views abound from this Mill Creek custom waterfront home. Built in 2010, this 6,000+ sq ft, Geothermal home was beautifully designed with no expense spared. As you enter the straight out views of Mill Creek overlooking the salt water, waterside pool, the coffered ceilings, gorgeous trim work, and cherry floors takes your breath away. Located on one of the most sought-after roads in Annapolis and known for its privacy and country-like living, Milvale road winds along the banks of Mill Creek in Saint Margarets surrounded by farmland and corn fields. The home sits on a gently sloping hill facing West with 180-degree views of Mill Creek, offering unbelievable sunsets. The home has 148 ft of water frontage, a deep-water pier with 8 MLW and a 15,000 lb. lift along with 2 slips. While only one creek away from Annapolis Harbor and minutes by car to downtown Annapolis, this is the best of the best in waterfront living.

Betsy Dunigan

m +1 443 994 1239 bdunigan@ttrsir.com

Gwin Hunt

m +1 410 353 4817 ghunt@ttrsir.com

Annapolis Brokerage 209 Main Street Annapolis, MD o +1 410 280 5600

The 8,500-square-foot, two-story home overlooks more than two acres of rolling green yard.

A Delicate Balance

IN RUGBY HALL

BY DYLAN ROCHE PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEOFFREY HODGDON

This three-story home’s architecture, from 3-car garage to laundry chute, was driven by the needs of a family with four children.

That’s how Bob Berry of Three B Architecture describes his approach not merely to architecture in general but also to a home in the Rugby Hall community of Arnold that was recently designed for a highly active family with four children.

The homeowners wanted comfort, utility, and beauty. Berry used the raw power of architecture to create custom spaces that delicately balance these desires. He found creative ways to manipulate traditional forms to meet the family’s every possible need: from a three-car garage, a mudroom, and laundry room (with a laundry chute) to a combined office and homework space and a main-level primary bedroom with a full view of—and easy access to—the pool.

My job is to create balance and create solutions for how they want to live— it’s a question of how they want to use this house.

“ ”

The vaulted great room with its high windows beckons natural light from the west.

Although the kitchen sits right in the middle of the main floor, elements such as its island and wine bar separate it from the great room.

The dining room has a tray ceiling to create aesthetic variation and is painted Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore.

There is also something extra special: a gymnasium equipped for two children in training to be gymnasts. When the house was still a work in progress, there was unused square footage over the garage. When the pandemic forced the world into shutdown, many activities the children enjoyed were canceled. Just in time, Berry joined forces with Laura Bauer of Ivory Stone Interiors to transform the extra space into a playroom and gym. Now, there would be plenty of room for games and for practicing maneuvers such as back handsprings and flips.

This was the sort of chemistry and creativity driving the project and an example of the synergy between architect and interior designer. Berry conceived the structure with Bauer’s design plan in mind. The ground floor features an open floor plan where there’s a clear transition between spaces. Different ceiling heights and freestanding columns ensure that the great room, the kitchen, the den, and the dining room feel like their own distinct spaces.

According to Berry, something important was needed to maintain flow and privacy: the addition of wings. “In some of the early designs, it was a rectangular house with perpendicular wings that came off,” Berry says. “In a later design session, just by rotating two of the wings by a slight degree, we opened up the yard and created a lot more usable area—and it opened up the view and some of the sightlines.”

Aesthetically, the goal was to have everything flow easily from one room to the next. Describing the look as “relaxed coastal,” Bauer says, “We tried to keep everything light and bright and airy. It’s about texture and material selection and color,” she adds.

The interior has a light, bright, and airy ambience.

Space above the garage was converted to a gym equipped for two children in training to be gymnasts.

Rattan and subtle colors like light blue balance out the house’s grandiose scale; rooms feel tranquil and calm rather than imposing. While many similar elements do appear throughout, Bauer does like to incorporate some surprises. “We want to keep it interesting while still creating a consistent flow,” she explains. “In each room, I tried to mix it up a little bit.”

One such place was on the tray ceiling in the dining room—an architectural element that Berry was already using to create aesthetic variation in a more traditional space. Bauer opted for a paint color by Benjamin Moore called Kendall Charcoal for the tray ceiling to contrast with the white walls painted a shade called Greek Villa from Sherwin Williams. “It’s about finding something fun to add to the space,” she says.

Bauer knew the home’s interior would need thoughtful design to hold up to so much activity while still looking beautiful. While she chose engineered wood floors throughout the main level—Bauer believes in always using either solid wood or engineered hardwood in the primary living space—she shifted to luxury vinyl planks in the basement rec room. Durable materials are essential when it comes to raising children. With this in mind, she suggests using quartz or porcelain tile in bathrooms rather than marble, as marble is porous and ages quickly.

Even with so much to consider and so many elements to incorporate, this collaborative effort between Berry and Bauer never felt inconsistent. Instead, with its coastal-inspired aesthetic and structured-but-open spaces, the home strikes a delicate balance between grandeur and comfort, exactly right for this busy family. AH

ARCHITECT: Bob Berry, Three B Architecture, threebarchitecture.com, Annapolis, Maryland | CUSTOM BUILDER: Signature Dream Homes, signaturedreamhomes.com, Stevensville, Maryland | INTERIOR DESIGNER: Laura Bauer, Ivory Stone Interiors, ivorystoneinteriors.com | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Barks Road Landscape Architecture, barksroad.com, Arnold, Maryland

The Tower Team

of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty

In business since 1969, The Tower Team brings true local knowledge, experience and integrity to their clients. Their outstanding reputation has made them the top area team for decades. They are experts in Downtown Annapolis/Eastport, historic renovation, luxury and waterfront properties as well as second homes, condos and starter homes in and around Anne Arundel County.

The Tower Team carefully advises and handles every detail of the buying and selling process. They excel in helping sellers ready their home for the market and advise sellers what cost effective changes to make (and what changes NOT to make!) to maximize their return. As part of their service, The Tower Team stages every home and hire outstanding photographers, so every home shows in its best possible light to assure the greatest result.

The Tower Team knows every good relationship starts with excellent listening and communication which makes them most effective in helping their buyers and sellers achieve their goals. All their clients enjoy the same luxury treatment whether they are buying or selling a property big or small. They work closely with an extensive local network of skilled professionals to make sure every transaction is smooth sailing all the way to the settlement table.

OUR EXPERIENCE IS THE KEY.

10

EXCEPTIONAL ARCHITECTS

Each November, we present this sponsored section, where we invite highly accomplished architects of the Chesapeake Region to feature a home they have designed and a profile about their work and firm. Our purpose is to benefit those homeowners who are considering hiring an architect. The principals of these firms are licensed architects and have won professional awards in juried competitions or have been featured in regional and national design magazines, including Annapolis Home Magazine

All of these architects have many years of experience, and we are confident they are serious about giving you their best work. If you are considering hiring an architect to design or remodel your home in greater Annapolis, the Eastern Shore, or the metropolitan D.C. area, you will find on the following pages exceptional architects worthy of your consideration.

Three B Architecture

Christine M. Dayton Architect

SPIRE Architecture

Stephen T. Terhune Architect

ARTFUL DETAILS

Easton-based Christine M. Dayton Architect, P.A. has earned a reputation for artful design, thoughtful attention to detail, and a highly collaborative working style. Staying fully engaged with her clients and their builder from start to finish is key. “There are no design musts,” says Dayton. Each project is an embodiment of her clients’ wants and dreams.

This project, a redesign of a dated family summer home, artfully houses two branches of the next generation. Public and private spaces are masterfully contained within the 6,000 sf expanse, ensuring lasting memories for years to come.

AUTHENTIC LIVING

SPIRE Architecture is a firm driven to create authentic living spaces through intentional design. Principals Kurt Shepard and Craig Martin bring nearly 40 years of experience to work on behalf of clients up and down the Chesapeake Bay. “Our process goes beyond active listening,” Martin says, “because SPIRE melds our client’s vision with a realistic budget, assists in hiring the appropriate builder, and observes the construction process from beginning to end.” The integration of the architectural design, construction team, and comprehensive client service sets SPIRE apart.

This project, on the south side of the South River overlooking the Riva Road Bridge, perfectly exemplifies SPIRE’s comprehensive approach. These clients asked for a place to feel comfortable, to create a multigenerational family space, and to have a cozy experience with a modern flair. “Our team worked with the client’s dreams to develop a modern design aesthetic integrating their vision with the contractor’s process and pricing for a complete bespoke experience,” explains Shepard. “Once we had the concept, we formulated a practical budget, finalized the design, and worked handin-hand with the builder to produce the high-quality home that will fit our clients’ lifestyle for years to come.”

The building team is Tim Ball from Annapolis on the Level, and interior design services are from Kate Lindsay, Melissa McLay Interiors.

Founded in 2013, SPIRE has created some of the most noteworthy custom homes and renovations in the region. Its projects have appeared in numerous publications, and they have been named the ‘Best of Annapolis’ Architecture Firm three years in a row. Both principals are adjunct faculty members for architecture at a local college and are active members of the American Institute of Architects, Chesapeake Bay Chapter. Martin currently serves on the Eastport Civic Association’s architectural review committee.

REIMAGINING HOME

Steve Terhune has a straightforward philosophy when it comes to architecture: He wants his clients and their visitors to say, “I really like that, and I’ve never seen it before.” The goal is always to be unique but comfortably familiar. And that resonates with his clients. He has unanimous 5-star ratings on Houzz, with testimonials praising his creativity and the way he listens to people’s needs. With diverse experience in everything from large institutional healthcare projects to small residential remodeling, Terhune is most proud that he has many repeat clients.

One homeowner remarks: “Steve has done 3 major projects for us over the past 15 years. The result has always been surprising and amazing whether the project is in Maryland or the mountains of Utah.”

His background as a construction manager for a national development company makes him unique among architects, giving him practical field experience and an understanding of what things cost. He works closely with builders early in the project to keep an eye on his client’s pocketbook.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF HOME

The design of a home is infinitely more than architecture. It is a personal reflection of how each client wants to live. For this new, custom home on the West River, architect Bob Berry with Three B Architecture seamlessly integrates the owner’s desire for maximum indoor-outdoor living space while navigating complex critical area requirements. Re-positioning the new home on the site permitted an open floorplan that maximizes river views and enabled a waterfront pool and spa, also with spectacular views. Waterfront

decks on both the ground and upper levels, combined with a wraparound porch, perfectly met the owner’s desire for highly integrated indoor-outdoor living spaces. Capitalizing on more than 23 years of global award-winning residential and commercial experience, Three B Architecture is perfectly positioned to balance each client’s values and vision with contextual sensitivity for each site. Like this home, the result is an elegant, refined solution that merges modern living with sustainable design.

Photographer: Geoffrey Hodgdon

The addition of a pool and pool house to this classic property could have been approached from a variety of design philosophies. JTAD’s design creates a unique, modern pool house that combines 1930s style with features and amenities from the 21st century. Accordion doors and an expansive skylight flood the interior with light and dramatic connection with the outdoors.

JTAD offers a creative, comprehensive, and exciting design experience to homeowners who want to infuse their properties with timeless elegance, customized to embrace and enhance the way they live, work, and play. John Toates and partner Mark L. Hoffman have more than 50 years of combined experience in residential design, making them ideal experts to guide you through the experience of a custom-designed home, renovation, addition, or outbuilding.

Photographer: Andrew Frasz

BarnesVanze Architects

BEAUTY & AUTHENTICITY

BarnesVanze Architects creates architecture of beauty and authenticity for clients who share the same aspiration for excellence.

Based in Washington, D.C.’s historic Georgetown, the 25-member firm consists of six principals and a talented studio team who together create sophisticated architecture in a range of contexts, climates, and historical traditions. The firm’s portfolio of expertly designed residential, commercial, institutional, and ecclesiastic projects can be found nationwide and in six other countries, from Canada to the Caribbean.

Fred Sieracki has led his Annapolis-based architecture practice since 1996, specializing in custom homes. By creating buildings that are beautiful as well as functional and energy-efficient, he helps clients build their dream house while reducing their carbon footprint. As a sole practitioner, Fred gives each client his personal attention as he guides them through every stage of the process, from design through construction. Clients appreciate his use of historical elements and natural materials that reflect the Chesapeake region—not to mention his attention to detail, which has earned him local and state awards for his designs.

The clients for this project wanted a French country-style house. The hipped roofs, stucco and stone walls, and other traditional elements pair with modern energy efficiency for a home that’s as practical as it is charming.

Photographer: David Burroughs Photography

HANSEN ARCHITECTS

Hansen Architects specializes in maximizing the creative potential of the most highly regulated waterfront sites in Maryland. Marta Hansen has built 175+ waterfront residences along the Chesapeake Bay and has won numerous awards from the American Institute of Architects. Her work is regularly featured in regional and national publications. Hansen Architects is scaled to ensure that each client receives her personal attention at every stage of development, yielding both a highly unified design vision and the highest quality product. Hansen is noted for blending construction and engineering expertise with a deep background in Fine Arts. This enables her to fluently compose hand sketches to visually convey the best in architectural design.

Wiedemann Architects is a full-service architectural firm with over 30 years of award-winning design experience ranging from new homes, estates, and residential additions to large institutional and commercial projects. The firm’s portfolio encompasses new work, both traditional and modern in design, and includes seamless residential additions, sympathetic to older structures: “additions so seamless they look as if they have always been there.” In addition to all normal architectural services, the firm offers services in feasibility studies, programming, site planning, master planning, urban design, and interiors. Wiedemann Architects LLC brings a breadth of experience and a standard of excellence in design, as demonstrated by the firm’s numerous architectural awards.

snOw White & THE 7...

1. ENY LEE PARKER: Contemporary hand-built Twist Column light, $38,000 | enyleeparker.com

2. GLOBAL VIEWS : Twisted Juniper console table, $7,450 | globalviews.com

3. COPERNI: Origami leather shoulder bag, $795 | us.coperniparis.com

4: ICHENDORF MILANO: Pitcher Bird designed by Alessandra Baldereschi, $71 | ichendorfmilano.com

5. LA FIORENTIA : Faux fur fingerless gloves, $68 | lafiorentia.com

6. BAYCO: Platinum, white ceramic, diamond mini lotus earrings $22,000 | bayco.com

7. VALENTINO: Head-to-toe outfit from FW 2022 Couture Collection | valentino.com

SEVERN RIVER WATERFRONT ESTATE

This remarkable, gated 20-acre waterfront estate is nestled on the banks of the Severn River, only 10 minutes from historic Annapolis and 40 minutes from Washington, DC. Enjoy coveted western exposures and year-round sunsets from the elegant stone home, adjacent guest house with pool and carriage house, combined offering over 23,000 SF of interior living space. All are complemented by manicured lawns, lush gardens, mature trees, and sophisticated hardscape. $15.9M | 938OldCounty.com

BAY RIDGE WATERFRONT

Enjoy this private, light-filled contemporary retreat set on 2+ acres with 400+ FT of water frontage, a protected, deep water dock, boat house with lift and waterside saltwater pool. Thoughtfully updated and renovated, this home offers four bedrooms and three baths, gourmet kitchen, great room, fireplace and soaring ceilings. Newly built, detached 2-car climate-controlled garage with electric vehicle charger. Easy access to Annapolis, DC, and Baltimore. $4,895,000 | 197WestLake.com Co-listed with Robert Weitzman, 410.703.6012

While most practices specialize in either making you look better or making you feel better, ProMD Health has the tools and expertise to do both. Our providers act like the conductors of a great symphony, properly cueing the right instruments at the right time to have you both Looking and Feeling your best.

B O T O X / D Y S P O R T F I L L E R

T H R E A D S C U L P T I N G A E S T H E T I C L A S E R M I C R O N E E D L I N G H Y D R A F A C I A L

H O R M O N E O P T I M I Z A T I O N T H E R A P Y E M S C U L P T N E O I V T H E R A P Y P R P T A T T O O R E M O V A L S K I N T Y T E V A G I N A L R E J U V E N A T I O N

O O K Y O U N G E R F E E L Y O U N G E R

High Design

Merry and Bright

LIGHTING WITH STYLE

Clockwise from top:

DUTTON BROWN: Color Beaded Urchin Chandelier; brass, steel, and high-gloss acrylic beads, $999 | duttonbrown.com

HINKLEY: Echelon Large Mutli-tier Chandelier; steel with heritage brass finish and faux alabaster glass, from the Lisa McDennon Collection, $2,299 | hinkley.com

SCHWUNG: Milan 3 Arms Floor Lamp; lacquered burnished brass and glass, Price Upon Request | schwung.design

CURREY & COMPANY: Potter Chandelier; wrought iron in an Aurora antique gold finish. A brutalist design envisioned by Denise McGaha, Price Upon Request | curreyandcompany.com

1039 WHITEHALL COVE ROAD

ANNAPOLIS, MD 21409

OFFERED AT $2,250,000

Tucked away on the coveted Whitehall peninsula and exuding traditional elegance, this home was custom built to highlight its stunning location on Whitehall Creek. The home features a private dock with 10+ foot MLW, complete with water, electric and 2+ boat slips.

737 N. RIVERSIDE DRIVE

CROWNSVILLE, MD 21032

UNDER CONTRACT FOR OVER LIST PRICE |

MULTIPLE OFFERS | OFFERED AT $895,000

Presenting extraordinary panoramic Severn River views, this three-level waterfront home was built in 2015. The sellers utilized the complete complimentary Staging and Design service package. This vacant home underwent a complete staging installation. A true testament to the power of staging, the transformation resulted in multiple offers and minimal days on the market.

74 RIVERSIDE DRIVE

SEVERNA PARK MD 21146

LEASED FOR $6,000/ MONTH

Every aspect of this waterview home was artfully designed and renovated within the last twelve months. The Snyder | Bradshaw Group assisted every step of the way from design and finishes, to a complete staging installation. This home was quickly leased for an impressive price, an ideal solution for a savvy investor.

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

537A BALTIMORE-ANNAPOLIS BLVD. SEVERNA PARK, MD 21146 O. 443.906.3848 | D. 410.216.0018

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FERGUSON

FICHTNER HOME EXTERIORS | fichtnerservices.com

IN HOME STONE, MARBLE & GRANITE, INC. | inhomestone.com

KATE MCKAY DESIGNS katemckaydesigns.com

KITCHEN ENCOUNTERS | kitchenencounters.biz

LAUER CONSTRUCTION, INC. | lauerhomes.com

LYNBROOK OF ANNAPOLIS, INC. | lynbrookofannapolis.com

MARYLAND PAINT & DECORATING mdpaint.com

MELISSA MCLAY INTERIORS | melissamclayinteriors.com

ANNAPOLIS

PYRAMID

REICO

RUFF

Front:

REALTOR CRUISE

on the Severn River

Tina Bradshaw and Elizabeth Davis

Standing: Robert Haywood, Christine Kosmides, and Joanna Dalton

Middle: Alex Tower Sears, Reid Buckley, Travis Gray, Mark Andrews, Kymberly Taylor, Jennifer Chino, Sarah Morse, Connie Cadwell, Tina Bradshaw, and Staci Foster

Jehanne Edwards and Malina Koerschner

Mark Andrews, President of Annapolis Yacht Sales Approaching Annapolis at sunset

Powerhouse Realtors enjoy the evening

Captain Brenden Tillman and Joanna Dalton

Alex Tower Sears

On September 20th, Annapolis Home and our Powerhouse Realtors set sail aboard a luxury 42-foot lagoon catamaran for a sunset cruise on the Severn River. The evening was hosted by Jehanne Edwards, owner of Church Circle Title, and Mark Andrews, President of Annapolis Yacht Sales. Annapolis Yacht Sales Charter Director, Brenden Tillman, expertly navigated the lavish vessel, arriving back in the harbor just as the sun slipped below the horizon and the lights of downtown twinkled on.

BAR SPERO

AN ADVENTURE IN DINING

By Christine Fillat | Photography by Joseph Weaver

Follow the aroma of the wood-fired grill into the bar and dining room, where sculptural fluorescent lighting and the driving beat of disco music set the stage for energetic conversation and lively encounters. Find a perch at the bar. This is the place where things happen.

Bar Spero is chef and owner Johnny Spero’s newest concept in dining and hanging out. The menu is structured around small and large plates; all are meant to be shared. There is an extensive wine list, a selection of bespoke cocktails, cider, vermouth, beer, and tasty non-alcoholic beverages.

Spero is known for his culinary prowess. Everything here is cooked over the open fire. The results are intriguing.

Slices of a single scallop are arranged in a sea shell, garnished with nasturtium leaves and bits of preserved kumquat, and bound by a luminescent green nasturtium oil. Dots of smoked charcoal oil decorate the dish.

In its preparation, our server explains, the scallop is sliced extremely thin, placed between sheets of kombu, and soaked in buttermilk. The smoked charcoal oil is made in a container in the wood-fired oven, where it absorbs the essence of smoke.

The resulting scallops are delicate and practically melt in your mouth. The kumquats lend a candy-like citrusy flavor.

The Gin Mare Gibson pairs nicely with the scallop, rather dry with a boozy purple pickled onion. Very cool and delicious.

The scallop from the Raw Bar section of the menu is emblematic of Spero’s gastronomic sensibility. Ingredients are given special treatment, such as the inclusion of a spicy green, oils for color and verve, and a surprise element to elevate the whole experience.

The menu at Bar Spero is full of treasures, and it is up to us to find them.

Plating is an art here. Everything is carefully crafted. Cinco Jotas is a beautiful arrangement of thin slices of aged ham arrayed in a semicircle along the inside wall of a dark earthenware bowl. A slice of hearth-grilled Manifest bread sits next to a spread of “ham fraîche:” an emulsification of reduced lardo, crème fraîche, and lemon zest.

Try the bread with the ham and the spread. Or the ham by itself. Or the spread on the bread or licked from a knife. Any combination of these is delicious. “It makes you laugh, it’s so good,” states my dining partner.

It is good. Really, really good. A glass of Portuguese sparkling rosé is quite fine with the ham.

We opt to have a few more dishes in the From the Fire section of the menu and the Daily Card, which lists the day’s specials. Grilled oysters are lightly grilled and served with a white cider, pickled garlic, and brown butter sauce. Leeks cooked in the hot coals are embedded in a mussel cream with lardo and thyme. While the two sauces on the oysters and leeks are completely different in composition, they look very similar in color and viscosity. Perhaps the similarity was less than prodigious; it would have been better had they not been served at the same time.

Raw oysters from Maine are not to be missed. The night we were there, they originated from Mere Point, Petit Manan, and Wolfe Neck. The giant Maine Belon oyster is in a class by itself and is worthy of trying.

Sunchokes sit upon a Virginia peanut praline and miso sauce. It is rather refreshing to find this odd tuber on the menu. The hearthroasted chokes are tender; the sauce is rich in umami and reminiscent of a very sophisticated chunky peanut butter.

A Spanish turbot comes in three sizes and is presented in its entirety upon the plate.

Offerings change with market availability. A chunky terrine of pork is peppery and comes with a side of greens. One evening a hearty roasted acorn squash is on the menu.

Grilled scallops share a plate with a potato mousse dotted with pretty, salty smoked trout roe.

A ceremony occurs just before dessert is served. A neat floral-like apparition appears on the table. Hot water is poured over it, and voilà, a steamy hot hand towel is offered for a little freshening up. My dinner partner is delighted and enjoys the luxuriousness of the essential oils.

The desserts at Bar Spero are sweet and unusual—and absolutely must be tasted.

Smoked Labneh Ice Cream with Berries: yogurt is wrapped in cheesecloth and hung over the hearth. As the yogurt thickens, it absorbs the essence of the smoke. An ice cream is made with the resulting labneh and served with a cider sabayon, fresh berries, and finger lime. Is it acceptable to lick the plate? One wonders.

Torrijas and green walnut syrup is a French toast-like dessert, a thick slice of Manifest brioche made eggy, sticky, and tasty, with an egg yolk caramel.

Bar Spero is just the place for adventurous eaters. One should love seafood and have a penchant for ham and perhaps a large cut of meat. The cuisine is thoughtful and delightful in its presentation. I am thinking of future visits and the possibility of trying the chilled seafood plateau, the whole Maine lobster, or the giant ribeye steak paired with a salad and a glass of cider or Spanish wine. But I am mostly thinking of who I can bring with me to Bar Spero to share in the adventure of food and fun.

Straight Up on Dining Out AHM

Chef and owner Johnny Spero

HOME AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES GUIDE

ARCHITECTS

ABS Architects pg. 99 410.268.1213 | absarchitects.com

BarnesVanze Architects pg. 95 202.337.7255 | barnesvanze.com

Christine M. Dayton Architect pgs. 86-87 | 410.822.3130 cdaytonarchitect.com

Fred Sieracki Architects pg. 96 410.570.2985 | fredsierackiarchitect.com

Hammond Wilson pg. 21 410.267.6041 | hammondwilson.com

Hansen Architects pg. 97 410.212.7970 | hansenarchitects.net

John Toates Architecture & Design pg. 94 | 484.725.7978 toatesarchitecture.com

SPIRE Architecture pgs. 88-89 410.212.6790 | spirearch.com

Stephen T. Terhune Architect pgs. 90-91 | 443.994.6100 steveterhune.com

Three B Architecture pgs. 92-93 443.791.6193 | threebarchitecture.com

Wiedemann Architects pg. 98 301.652.4022 | wiedemannarchitects.com

CUSTOM BUILDERS

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

Blackketter Craftsmen, Inc. pg. 119 410.923.3111 | blackcraft.com

BoHan Contracting pgs. 18-19 410.757.0971 | bohancontracting.com

Gate One Builders pg. 31 410.268.0778 | gateonebuilders.com

Lundberg Builders, Inc. pg. 51 410.643.3334 | lundbergbuilders.com

Mueller Homes pg. 73 muellerhomes.com

Nugent Design Build pg. 23 301.261.9685 | nugentdesignbuild.com

Procopio Homes pg. 63 301.621.7703 | 410.551.8454 procopiofamilyhomes.com

Pyramid Builders pgs. 2-3 410.571.7707 | pyramid-builders.com

Winchester Construction pg. 27 410.987.5905 | winchesterinc.com

Younger Construction pg. 110 410.626.8602 | youngerconstruction.com

DESIGN PROFESSIONALS

Fitzsimmons Design Associates, Inc. pgs. 14-15 410.269.1965 | fitzsimmonsdesign.com

Greater Annapolis Design District pgs. 108-109 | annapolisdesigndistrict.com

Interior Concepts, Inc. pg. 20 410.224.7366 or 301.970.8009 interiorconceptsinc.com

Kim Hovell, Artist & Designer pg. 115 | kimhovell.com

Lucretia Hommel Interior Design pg. 81 443. 422.5376 | lucretiahommel.com

SRD | Sarah Richter Design pg. 113 443. 926.1321 | sarahrichterdesign.com

Sew Beautiful pg. 48 410.544.3300 | sewbeautifulwindows.com

Simply Wesley Interior Design pg. 114 | 443.994.6757 | simplywesley.com

EXCLUSIVE KITCHEN OR BATH DESIGN

314 Design Studio pg. 114 410.643.4040 | 314designstudio.com

Design Solutions, Inc. pg. 115 410.757.6100 | dsikitchens.com

Kitchen Encounters pg. 24 410.263.4900 | kitchenencounters.biz

Maryland Shower Enclosures pg. 119 | 410.626.1222 marylandshower.com

Stuart Kitchens pg. 47 410.761.5700 | stuartkitchens.com

The Somerville Bath & Kitchen Store pg. 28 | 410.266.1122 thesomervillebathandkitchenstore.com

BEAUTY

Green & Bean Boutique pg. 119 greenbeanboutique.com

ProMD Health pg. 103 410.449.2060 | promdhealth.com

HOME SERVICES

84 Lumber Kitchen & Bath

Design Studio pgs. 6-7 410.757.4684 | 84designstudios.com

ADU, Your Appliance Source pg. 26 | 410.267.7110 | adu.com

American Cedar & Millwork pg. 64 | 410.987.6800 | millwork1.com

Architectural Window Supply pg. 30 | 410.266.5254 | archwin.com

California Closets pg. 29 410.247.8088 | californiaclosets.com

Compass Stone & Tile Studio pg. 50 | 410.224.0700| cst-studio.com

Elite Hardwood Flooring pg. 25 | 410.280.1420 elitehardwoodflooring.com

In Home Stone Marble & Granite pg. 111 | 410.626.2025 | inhomestone.com

TW Perry pgs. 12-13 443.808.1481 | twperry.com

WalterWorks Hardware pg. 113 410.263.9711 walterworkshardware.com

OUTDOOR LIVING

Bay Pile Driving pg. 49 410.879.3121 or 888.886.1213 baypiledriving.com

Campion Hruby Landscape

Architects Inside Back Cover 410.280.8850 | campionhruby.com

McHale Landscape Design

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

Walnut Hill Landscape Company pgs. 4-5 | 410.349.3105 or 410.690.0977 walnuthilllandscape.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

The Frame Shoppe, Inc. pg. 119 410.721.9479 | theframeshoppeinc.com

Georgia Lambrou Art pg. 114 305.213.2066 | georgialambrou.art

REAL ESTATE

Charlie

Back Cover | 410.266.6880 waterfronthomes.org

Coldwell Banker Realty pg. 65 Annapolis Church Circle | 410.263.8686 Annapolis Plaza | 410.224.2200 coldwellbankerluxury.com

Barbara Birkbeck White of Coldwell Banker Realty pg. 107 m. 917.428.7288 | o. 410.263.8686 birkbeckwhiteinternational.com

Beach Club Ocean View pg. 111 302.316.4956 | livewelloceanview.com

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

David Orso of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices PenFed Realty pgs. 16-17 c. 443.691.0838 | o. 443.372.7171 davidorso.com

Day Weitzman of Coldwell Banker Realty pg. 102 m. 410.353.0721 | o. 410.263.8686 dayweitzman.com

Georgie Berkinshaw & Jean Berkinshaw Dixon of Coldwell Banker Realty pg. 22 gb. 443.994.4456 | jbd. 443.995.2791 o. 410.263.8686 | gberkinshaw.com

Rosemont Real Estate pg. 23 rosemontrealestate.com

Snyder Bradshaw Group of Monument Sotheby’s International Realty pg. 105 | o. 443.906.3848 d. 410.216.0018 | snyderbradshaw.com

Buckley’s Mr. Waterfront Team, of Long & Foster Real Estate| Christie’s International Real Estate

Happy Holidays!

from All of us at annapolis home

During this holiday season, we give thanks for the things in life that really matter—family, friends, and our homes. We also think about those who are alone or struggling. Here are five of the many organizations that serve those who need a helping hand and who will benefit from your contributions: • Annapolis Light House, annapolislighthouse.org • Anne Arundel County Food Bank, aafoodbank.org • Haven Ministries, haven-ministries.org • SPAN-Severna Park, spanhelps.org • Talbot Interfaith Shelter, talbotinterfaithshelter.org