Annapolis Home Magazine

Annapol i s HOME Serving Anne Arundel County, The Eastern Shore & Beyond • Vol.3 No.1 2012

garden • dock • garage

Our Fine Design Awards Issue Exclusive:

Master Guide to Luxury Home & Garden Pros Lew French’s Stone Work & Hobbit Houses Chip Bohl on Main Street Architecture

1

Annapolis Home

2

Annapolis Home

The Appliance Source

EXPLORE • DISCOVER • EXPERIENCE Home Design & Remodeling Fine Home Furnishings Kitchen & Bath Flooring Carpet & Rugs Custom Window Treatments Stone, Marble & Granite Shower Enclosures Fine Cabinet Hardware Appliances Interior Design & Fabrics

www.theappliancesource.com 410-267-7110

Bandicoot Trading Co. www.bandicoottrading.com 410-990-4705

Explore

the Annapolis Design District

Discover

businesses dedicated to design, decorating and furnishings with award-winning professionals to assist you

Experience

beautiful showrooms that inspire

Lighting & Chandeliers

Capital Lighting Supply www.capitaltristate.com 410-919-2400 In Home Stone,

Marble & Granite www.inhomestone.com 410-626-2025

Kitchen Encounters www.kitchenencounters.biz 410-263-4900

Loewen Windows & Doors

Windows & Doors

www.loewen.com 410-280-1870

Maryland Shower Enclosures

www.marylandshower.com 410-626-1222

WalterWorks Hardware

www.walterworkshardware.com 410-263-9711

©2010 Google - Map Data ©2010 Google

www.annapolisdesigndistrict.com

Piers • Platforms • Pilings • Catwalk • Bulkheads Retaining Walls • Boatlift Installation • Shore Erosion Control • Stone Revetments • C-Loc Vinyl Bulkheads • Rip Rap • Jetties • Breakwaters • New Construction & Repair • Commercial & Residential

Jeff & Laura Gosnell, Owners

Office: 410-879-3121 Toll Free: 888-886-1213 www.baypiledriving.com 2

Annapolis Home

A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau.

SHA Erosion & Sediment Control Certification.

Member of The Maryland Marine Contractors Association.

MHIC Licensed # 120670, MDE State Registered Marine Contractor (047E), Fully insured.

Why Not Eliminate Those Chilly Drafts & Lower Your Energy Bills?

Our energy auditors, using infrared technology, locate invisible leaks and make your home more efficient.

Rebates are available for your entire audit and reimbursement for up to 35% of improvements.

(Restrictions apply)

We handle the paper work! www.iSaveEnergy.net www.facebook.com/iSaveEnergy MHIC 129232 Licensed and insured

You wouldn’t trust your home design to just anyone ...

so why trust your mortgage to just anyone?

BOWIE • ANNAPOLIS • EASTERN SHORE • WALDORF • NORTHERN VIRGINIA www.twsb.com 1.800.843.7250 • 240.544.2020

MEMBER

FDIC

garden • dock • garage

FEATURES

8 23 20

Unveiled: Fine Design Award Prize Winners A look at the projects that caught and kept our judges’ attention.

The Master Guide to Luxury Home & Garden Professionals The specialty list for all your home and garden projects.

On The Corner:

Main Street Annapolis in 1790 and 1970

Architect Chip Bohl examines the unusual relationship between 18th & 20th century buildings located side-by-side on Main Street. .

DEPARTMENTS

6

Publishers’ Letter

7

Robert’s Picks

48

In the Kitchen: An Aphrodisiac on the Half Shell

4

Annapolis Home

CONTENTS

Annapol i s HOME

40

Thinking Without Mortar Lew French shares his thoughts on hobbit huts, fireplaces and landscaping with stone.

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 5

Annapol i s HOME garden • dock •• garage

Editor Kymberly B. Taylor Creative Director Ryan Gladhill Senior Designer Samantha Gladhill

Publishers’ Letter

Contributing Photographers Geoffrey Hodgdon

Look around at all the local publications—we are proud that we are like no other. You will note that Annapolis Home is the only luxury magazine committed solely to the architecture and design scene here.

Architectural Columnist Chip Bohl

We are also committed to building and promoting the design community. This is the purpose of the AHM Builder and Fine Design Awards. We thank our distinguished judges—Patrick Sutton, Peter Fillat, and Scott Rykiel—for devoting so much time and thought in selecting the winners. We thank all who entered the competition and congratulate the 2011-12 winners. In the pages of this issue, you will see the stunning award-winning projects.

Contributing Writer Christine Fillat Account Executives Stacia Simmons stacia@annapolishomemag.com Jerrie Taylor

When embarking on a home or landscape project, you need a reliable source to turn to. That’s why we have created for the first time The Master Guide To Luxury Home and Garden Professionals. Hold onto this issue and consult The Master Guide throughout the year.

Publishers Kymberly B. Taylor Robert E. Haywood

We are also committed to bringing to our readers risk-taking design ideas from around the world. In this issue, you’ll meet Lew French, a master stonemason who takes stone to new realms.

With his sharp and trained eye for architecture, Chip Bohl helps us see anew the Donner Building and 99 Main Street. Read his story and then stop by and take a second look at these two buildings. While you’re at it, you can drop into the Historic Annapolis Museum.

We are excited about the upcoming year and wish you a Happy 2012!

All good wishes,

Kymberly Taylor & Robert Haywood Publishers

kymberly@annapolishomemag.com robert@annapolishomemag.com

Advertising in Annapolis Home

Through its advertisements, Annapolis Home strives to showcase businesses that possess a strong commitment to high standards of professional integrity and customer service. We seek advertisers who share our business philosophy. For advertising inquiries, please contact Robert Haywood at robert@annapolishomemag.com or please call 443.942.3927 Annapolis Home Magazine P.O. Box 6560, Annapolis, MD 21401 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. © 2011 by Taylor Haywood Media LLC

Annapolis Home Magazine

is Online! Come visit us! www.annapolishomemag.com

Find Us on Facebook!

6

Annapolis Home

www.facebook.com/annapolishomemagazine.

Robert’s Picks

1

I am often surprised at how many people in this area have never visited The Phillips Collection near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. This small, intimate art museum is a treasure chest of great works of art; the Phillips Collection includes Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s impressionist masterpiece, Luncheon of the Boating Party (1881). One of the challenges has always been that The Philips Collection is not easy to find; it is easy to walk right past the building without knowing it is a world-class museum. But that has changed with artist Will Ryan’s installation of The Roses (2011) right on the corner of the Philips Collection. A rose is one of the most adored and serious flowers, notable for their lush, layered pedals. Ryman adopts the rose form and turns it into a giant whimsical, almost kitschy bright read and pink sculpture.

The Roses is on view temporarily, but we hope its installation will be extended permanently! For more information, go to www.phillipscollection.org

2

If you haven’t visited the Phillips Collection or want to visit it again, you can join the tour offered by Academy Art Museum. This museum in Easton, MD offers wonderful trips to cultural events throughout the area and is planning a day trip to The Phillips Collection on March 21, 2012. For a complete list of the Academy’s “Arts Express Bus Trips” go to www.academyartmuseum.org/arts_express.html

IMAGE: Will Ryman, The Roses, 2011, photo courtesy of David Gaines

3

Annapolis offers great musical performance throughout the year. But the city desperately needs a new, sophisticated concert hall so that audiences can enjoy the full effect of these performances. In the meantime, you will not want to miss upcoming performances, including The Annapolis Opera’s Shakespeare in Love on February 12, 2012.

This is a collaborative concert with the Bay Theatre Company and Ballet Theatre of Maryland. For more details, go to www.

AnnapolisOpera.org/season-and-tickets/shakespeare-in-love

4

Live Arts Maryland is a terrific cultural enterprise.

Live Arts is the home base for the Annapolis Chorale, the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra, and the St. Anne’s Concert Series. They also offer music education program for musicians of all ages. You can support Live Arts by attending their Annual Gala on January 21, 2012. For more information, visit www.liveartsmaryland.org

5

The Annapolis Home Show takes place February 18-19 and February 25-26, 2011.This is an opportunity for you to meet many small business owners in the home industry and to make plans for your winter and spring building and remodeling projects. Annapolis Home Magazine will be there! Please join us for our seminar on extraoridary spaces in Annapolis. For more information go to www.midatlanticexpos.com/Annapolisinfo Robert Haywood, Ph.D., studied art and architectural history at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He has taught at MIT, Johns Hopkins University and been a residential fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts and the Getty Center in Los Angeles.

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 7

Quayle & Company Grand Prize—Outdoor Living

Builder and Fine Design Awards

Grand Prize 2011-12

Annapolis Home Magazine

A Tiny Oasis in

Severna Park

By Kymberly Taylor If “God is in the details” those working on them are under quite a bit of pressure. Yet, it is the details and how they cohere to form a tiny, private universe sheltered behind an evergreen screen that Annapolis Home’s judges found entrancing. They admired it so much that they awarded Hal Quayle, founder of Quayle and Company, and his team a grand prize in our Architecture and Design Awards Series.

It all started in Fall 2009, when a Severna Park resident called upon Hal Quayle to drain a few inches of standing water from her patio. Her property is tucked into a woodland setting that backs into protected park acreage and a nature preserve. “I went back to look and saw the pool was right there. I saw a vision immediately in my head. I don’t say anything usually to a client when this happens,” says Quayle. However, one thing led to another and he began a discussion with her, pointing out that the pool deck, fence, and patio were dilapidated and well past their prime. As a seasoned landscape architect, he sensed in this tiny ruin the potential for a private, sophisticated oasis. By the time he left her home, they had decided to give her back yard a facelift, adding a water feature to the ensemble.

His team, including landscape designer Diana Silva, had to face one Herculean challenge. The 500’ space was too small to accommodate machinery necessary to do demolition, to haul 1,000 pound rocks, cast stone and heavy lumber, and to uproot mature trees. “This was one of the tightest spaces we’ve ever worked in,” he recalls. “We had to drive a heavy duty crane in the driveway and swing 1,000 pound stones over the house and drop them into place.”

Quayle managed to carefully install the cast stone fountain that is the design’s focal point. While seated at its edge upon giant boulders, one can trace with a finger veins in the travertine tile floor. The stainless weir inside glistens, producing a shining continuous linear waterfall; its elongated profile echoes the shape of the pool.

Three tall Cryptomeria add instant year-round privacy along with clumping bamboo. When mature, this bamboo will form an abundant screen of variegated green. A custom cedar fence connects seamlessly to a black aluminum fence that surrounds the property. Redbud and dogwood help soften the fence line and blur the borders. One of this project’s most magical details is the cedar door gate. Its round arbor opening seems like a charmed sphere. As one steps through, a travertine landing, steps and retaining wall shadowed by fragrant plantings hint at what lies ahead.

8

Annapolis Home

This serene scene was a wreck in 2009. Quayle and Company jack hammered out the cement pool surround. To create unity and a sense of time gone by, they installed richly grained 18’ travertine tile with two-inch thick travertine coping. The cedar door arbor window offers a glimpse into an undisturbed oasis.

We are proud to present to our readers the 2011-12 winners of the Annapolis Home Magazine Builders and Fine Design Awards. Annapolis Home is proud to be the first magazine in Annapolis to make a sole commitment to showcasing the finest builders and designers serving Anne Arundel and beyond. Congratulations!

Awards Banquet: October 20, 2011 at the Gibson Island Club.

10

Annapolis Home

Best Interior Karen Renee Interiors Designer: Janiece Elmer

For this formal living room for a home in Fallston, designer Janiece Elmer did away with the concept of a conventional sofa and neutral wall tones. Instead, she selected a bold red for the walls and four generous chairs arranged symmetrically around a coffee table. Because the red walls were so powerful, Elmer kept the rest of the room simple, open and serene.

Best Bath Annapolis Kitchen & Bath Principal: Duane Dwyer Designer: Leesa Johnson Tile: In Home Stone and In Home Tile Designer Leesa Johnson and Annapolis Kitchen and Bath co-founder Duane Dwyer gutted and remodeled the master bath and bedroom of their Crofton-based client. The colors in the bath are lighter shades of chocolate with touches of claret and echo those in the bedroom suite. Dwyer’s team enlarged the bathroom, replaced flooring and countertops, and changed the bathtub to a luxury shower, reconfiguring the plumbing to ensure more volume and on-demand hot water.

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 11

Best Kitchen

Kitchen Encounters Mark White, CKBD, CBD Co-designer- Serena Lehn, CKD Interior Designers- Brown-Davis Interiors, Inc. Washington, D.C. Installation- D. McPherson and Co. Gambrills, Md. Kitchen Encounters’ founder Mark White, with the interior designer and homeowners, choreographed a highly functioning kitchen with multiple work stations, over ten built-in appliances and exquisite cabinetry composed of Ribbon Mahogany, English Sycamore Inlay and Pommele Sapelli on a flat panel, with each wall cabinet door repeating the square motif.

He ensured that cabinetry and appliances were installed flawlessly. This is the invisible part of the room’s distinct beauty. .

Best Remodel LangKuhn Architects/Builders Richard Lang Jonathan Kuhn Builder: LangKuhn Architect: Buxton Architecture The Lang-Kuhn team worked together to convert a 28-year-old colonial-style home with a traditional floor plan into a contemporary space flooded with natural light. They built an addition and knocked down walls, creating an open and spacious kitchen and great room and master suite, guest bedrooms and a painting studio upstairs. Wood and stone appear throughout the house and give the interior a natural feel amplified by large window walls along the back of the house that overlook manicured gardens.

12

Annapolis Home

Best Landscape Walnut Hill Landscape Company Landscape Architect: Mike Prokopchak, ASLA, Walnut Hill Landscape Contractor & Project Managers: Walnut Hill Landscape Co. Lighting & Irrigation: Terra Nova Design Swimming Pool: Sunset Pools Walnut Hill created a landscape master plan for this large weekend home overlooking Cherry Tree Cove. The home’s large scale and the need to create a proper entry to the estate as well as a privacy screen to block out an adjacent home were challenging. Walnut Hill chose large 20-foot evergreens to add dignity to the drive and create a privacy wall.

Additional layers of plantings at ground level add distinction. To solve the problem of limited planting space for the back terrace, containers were used to encourage flowing masses of color and texture all year round.

Best Hardscape Walnut Hill Landscape Company Landscape Architect: Campion Landscape Architecture Landscape Contractor & Project Management: Walnut Hill Landscape Lighting & Irrigation: Terra Nova Design Swimming Pool & Spa: Sunset Pools Mike Prokopchak and his team at Walnut Hill created a waterfront playground on a relatively small lot with a severe slope. He dealt with the limitations by constructing retaining walls, patios and stairways, sculpting the terrain to create a grass terrace for children to play. Stonework includes that on the house, swimming pool, spas and outdoor kitchen.

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 13

Editor’s Choice: Distinguished Home Feature Pyramid Builders Bret Anderson Mark Sanders

Pyramid Builders built a new house with a hemispherical dome for residents on the South River. It is suspended over a grand two-story foyer and provides a focal point to the sweeping stairway and balustrade.

Constructed entirely of plaster and skillfully painted, its construction, symmetry, and proportion are the result of great craftsmanship—every dimension is balanced and each coffer reflects perfectly its opposite side.

Editor's Choice: Green Award Ciminelli’s Landscape Services Matt Ciminelli Matt Ciminelli’s client had storm water pooling in her driveway and an unsightly shed whose roof needed repair. Ciminelli suggested that, along with roof repair, she add a green roof, which would help with aesthetics and runoff. He installed a green roof on the shed, and replaced the asphalt driveway with Aqua-Bric Pavers. These pavers are permeable and allow water to be absorbed by the soil beneath.

14

Annapolis Home

The Future in Clarity

Voted The Capital Reader’s Choice, Severna Park Voice Best Of, and Chespeake Family’s Favorite Docs!

Mention this AD to receive $100 off Eyeglasses with Any Frame and Lens Purchase. Some Restrictions apply. • Expires 11/01/2011

558-E Ritchie Hwy. • Park Plaza (410)-544-7417 Experience the clarity of precision optics

www.peeperseyecare.com

Dr. Kevin Johnson, O.D. Dr. Barry Tilles, O.D. Dr. Shawn Mudd, O.D.

Big IslandMarine Ventures Construction

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 15

Erin Paige Pitts

Grand Prize—Interior Design

Builder and Fine Design Awards

Grand Prize 2011-12

Annapolis Home Magazine

The Long & Short of an

English Cottage Kitchen

By Kymberly Taylor Annapolis Home Magazine’s judges awarded this kitchen remodel by Erin Paige Pitts a grand prize because she rose to the level of difficulty it presented. The “before” photo reveals a dark, tomb-like kitchen that was more like an end, rather than the center of this home. A designer needs not just skill but also a developed spatial imagination to be able to sense and bring forth something that never was. We congratulate Erin for her ability to do just that, to add and manipulate materials to create more space, without, paradoxically, taking anything away.

The homeowners live in an English Cottage-style home built in the 1920s. And, the gauntlet-like space reflects its use during the era. After studying intensely the configuration, interior designer Erin Page Pitts made short work of the problem. Inspired by traditional English kitchens that have cabinetry and free-standing furniture, she approached the project from three different directions.

Before

First, she transformed each wall with cabinetry and special appointments designed to capture and hold a visitor’s attention. “I decided the way to break up the length of this kitchen was to give each cabinetry wall distinctive features that would give you reason to pause, therefore breaking up the monotony,” she says. She added sconces to flank the range hood. These create texture and depth while glass cabinets have antiqued water glass on their top tier.

The second thing she did was to design an island that is more like a tiny archipelago shaped by this family’s tides. Its contours encourage traffic flow and special stools pull out for informal dining, a quick snack, or a couple glasses of wine. Her third approach was to create a master mix of materials, finishes, and paints that together reference the tidewater English nature of the home. She chose a warm buttery shade for the cabinets, White Springs granite, creamy white crackle tile and walnut for the countertops. Guests gather often in this cheery kitchen that now has seating, counter and cabinet space. In this case at least, Erin challenges the old adage that “less is more.” In this kitchen, more was added to create much more.

16

Annapolis Home

Granite Grannies Stone is our Passion

annapOliS area ChriStian SChOOl Serving Maryland families for 40 years, providing excellence in education for Pre K through 12th grade, from a Christian perspective.

UpCOMinG adMiSSiOn ShOwCaSeS lOwer SChOOl ................ Fri. Jan 20 • 9 am.

710 Ridgely Avenue • Annapolis, MD

Middle SChOOl ................ Fri. Jan 27 • 9 am.

716 Bestgate Road • Annapolis, MD

Upper SChOOl ....................Fri. Feb 3 • 9 am.

109 Burns Crossing Road • Severn, MD

Granite Grannies, Inc.

301.218.7666

info@granitegrannies.com www.granitegrannies.com Join Us!

aacsonline.org Open dOOr viSitS available weekly.

For information, call the admission Office at 410.519.5300 x111.

Celebrity Guest Seminars:

Feb 18 & 19 Feb 25 & 26

Get the most out of your house!

Sat: 10am-6pm Sun: 11am5pm

w Billy Derian

Kitchens • Bathrooms • Decks • Landscaping • Tile Counters • Basement Systems • Design & Build • And more!

DIY’s “Extra Yardage”

Sat., Feb. 18

Mike McGrath v

WTOP’s “Garden Guru”

Sat., Feb. 18

National Guard Armory • Annapolis, MD • (Hudson St. near the intersection of West St. and Rt. 2)

w Dr. Lori

Antiques Appraiser

Sun., Feb. 19

Damon Bennett v

HGTV’s “Holmes Inspection”

Sat., Feb. 25

FINAL2 7x4.625 AnnapolisHome Ad.indd 1

12/9/11 11:41 AM

Think hiring a professional designer will cost too much? It won’t!

DESIGNING SOLUTIONS Whatever your budget, whatever your style, we can solve your decorating problems.

distinctive window treatments beautiful blinds, shades and shutters luxurious soft furnishings

Sew Beautiful Custom Window Treatments & More

To see what we can do for your home call today!

Celebrating 10 Years of Service Margaret Blunt • 410.987.5084 • margaret@sewbeautifulwindows.com

www.sewbeautifulwindows.com

As seen in Dog Fancy, People Magazine, Capital Style Magazine, HGTV, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USAToday

(888)444-5593

MyDesigningSolutions.com

99 Main was saved from demolition and restored in 1958 by a group of concerned Annapolitans.

Opposite Page: Photo courtesy Historic Annapolis Foundation.

20

Annapolis Home

On

the Corner

Main Street Annapolis in 1790 and 1970

99 Main Street is more than a very handsome building commanding the harbor front. It is an icon of simplicity.

Erected in the 1790’s shortly after a destructive fire, the building had commercial shops on the ground floor and residential uses on the upper story.

Architecturally, the edifice makes a singular statement.

The proportions are simple and direct—the building’s configuration can be understood in a single glance.

Note how the exterior walls directly support the roof and the roof ridge spans straight between the two end wall chimneys.

The reserved building silhouette is only the first impression. A closer look reveals elegant craftsmanship and details. The proportion of the windows is thoughtful and orderly. Notice how the windows graduate in size from larger on the first floor to smaller at the top floor. The two brick belt courses that wrap around the building provide a subtle horizontal articulation and echo the corner location at Green Street. The wood cornice is a beautiful dentil and modillion trim popular in Annapolis at the time. Dentil trim is so named because of the visual similarity to teeth. Modillion trim has repetitive small projecting brackets that originated in Greek architecture. The attractive Flemish bond brick pattern, the dramatically angled flat window arches, and tall thin chimneys further reflect the superior building craft achieved in late 18th century Annapolis.

By Chip Bohl Photography by Geoffrey Hodgdon

designed by Annapolis architect James Wood Burch in 1970, it is a masterful accomplishment. At a time when most architects were designing buildings that proclaimed their solitary independence, Burch designed this building to be in the background, in order to showcase the architectural treasure of its neighbor. He did this without mimicking the older building, and without resorting to fake historicism. He created an architecture that is the direct opposite of the building he wished to glorify. Where 99 Main is simple, direct and whole, the Donner Building is complex, obfuscating and fragmented. One is universal and the other idiosyncratic.

Burch was faced with designing a building that would be wider, considerably larger and include one more floor than 99 Main Street. He started by dividing the front of the Donner Building into two unequal parts.

On the left is a narrow three story form of familiar townhouse proportions. On the right is a four story form that is pushed back from the sidewalk. This

99 Main Street commands its quiet nobility in part because of its immediate neighbor. The “Donner Building,”

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 21

The Donner Building was built and still owned by the Donner family, owners of Mills Spirits.

arrangement gives the left side of the 18th century building exposure to the street and harbor, leaving its left corner silhouette uninterrupted from sidewalk to chimney. This allows the older building prominence when viewed from either up or down Main Street.

Burch creates further deference by articulating the building details. Notice the two plain but not unadorned roof cornices. The left cornice is lower than the older building; the right cornice is well behind it.

The windows are graduated bottom to top, but are not regularly spaced side to side. The fourth floor windows thrust up into the roof, breaking the cornice line. I have not found this idiosyncrasy in any other building in Annapolis. The effect is to further diminish the solidity of the Donner Building. It is an architectural invention that significantly predates the “de-constructivist” architectural designs of the 1990s. The ratio of window openings to solid walls is actually greater in the 1790’s building, which is contrary to what one would expect in a building of the 1970s.

The other masterstroke by Burch is his avoidance of using any historical detailing. The windows are a casement and transom design that does not mimic the historic multi mullioned double hung wood windows.

He designed precast concrete lintels to avoid any reference to the beautiful 18th century brick arches.

Even the color palettes are different. Burch uses no white paint in order to feature the beautiful historic woodwork of its neighbor.

The Donner Building is wider, larger and one more story than its revered neighbor, but because of the talent of James Wood Burch, the new building is always deferential to the older. It is full of architectural lessons

22

Annapolis Home

in how to design a new building in an established historic setting. Burch loved and understood the history of Annapolis. He created an idiosyncratic building of great importance. It is a building that can live in only one place: the foot of Main Street, at the side of an 18th century Annapolis gem.

Chip Bohl is an architect, providing service in the Chesapeake Bay region for 33 years. Visit www.BohlArchitects.com to see his work.

Visit the Historic Annapolis Museum at 99 Main Street. Exhibits include a 6-foot-by-6-foot model of Annapolis in the 18th century, and life-size cutouts of George Washington, Marquis de La Fayette, Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln, frequent visitors to Annapolis.

Take a $5 audio tour and follow the footsteps of these famous gents. Museum is open Monday–Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Sunday: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. From January 3–February 28, the Museum will be closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

For additional information, call 410-267-6656 or go to www.annapolis.org.com

/ Master Guide The

to Luxury Home & Garden Professionals

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 23

Custom Builder

g

LUNDBERG BUILDERS, INC

Q&A

Brad Lundberg

410.643.3334 | www.lundbergbuilders.com 314 main street, stevensville, md 21666

What are some of your current projects?

• Repairing a 1690 Historic Home severely damaged

by Hurricane Irene • Putting the finishing touches on a very modern custom home in Annapolis • Building a smaller custom home on the Eastern Shore • Remodeling several kitchens and baths • Our two handyman trucks are constantly busy with care and repair projects

How will a prospective client know if they will be a good fit for your firm?

Visit our website and take a look at some of our work. Come to our office on Kent Island to meet the team, ask questions about the processes and procedures that we use to make sure that you have a better building experience.

What are some of the advantages of hiring Lundberg Builders?

24

Annapolis Home

Experience – 35 years of award winning construction, established in 1977

The Teamwork Element – A well rounded group of people who truly love what they do. Several employees have been with the firm for 30 years.

There are a great many advantages when collaborative thoughts occur.

Solutions – What we develop to meet the individual needs of our clients.

Excitement – Building and renovation is our passion.

Commitment – Our customer service continues long after the move in date.

g

Custom Builder

g Mike Scarpignato

443-.76.4794 | www.renditionbuilders.com

405 pondview lane, davidsonville, md 21035

With over 25 years in the new home construction and remodeling industries, Mike Scarpignato is an expert in the building industry. Mike started remodeling in high school while working weekends and summers for a neighbor who was a residential remodeling contractor. Then, he worked his way through college designing and building both commercial and residential projects. He received his B.S. Degree in Accounting from the University of Baltimore in 1990 and went to work for Maryland’s largest home builder as a sales representative. A few years later, he became a project manager. In this position, Mike literally built hundreds of single family, townhomes, and condos from the ground up. Mike moved up to become a manager in charge of sales, production, service, and land acquisition for the central Maryland and DC Markets.

Four years ago, Mike decided to venture out and begin Rendition Builders specializing in finished basements, bathrooms, and kitchens. Mike found in the recent real estate climate that there was a need for a high quality professional remodeler who could communicate well with clients and offer a very high level of customer service and professionalism.

Mike is a contractor who truly cares about his customers and takes the time to get to know them and their needs. He spends hours planning and designing each project before work begins to ensure the highest quality outcome.

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 25

Design-Build

Builder and Fine Design Awards

BEST REMODEL 2011-12

Annapolis Home Magazine

Richard Lang Jonathan Kuhn

Q&A

410.991.0495 | www.langkuhn.com

I am thinking about an addition to expand my kitchen/dining room area. I don’t know what something like that costs, and I don’t want to waste an architect or builder’s time if is out of my price range. Where should I start?

This is a common question from many clients. Every remodel project is unique and we think it is important to take the time to meet with you and understand the scope of the project before giving you a budgetary estimate. As an architecture and construction firm we will bring design skills and construction knowledge to the initial consultation meeting and will be able to give you a budgetary estimate to help you decide if you want to move forward. Sometimes after an initial meeting the project does not move forward and we are happy that we could help make the right decision for that client even if it doesn’t end up as a new project for us.

BRIGHTVIEW

B U I L D E R S,

Windows & Siding • Vinyl Siding • Cement Board Siding • Replacement Windows • Anderson Windows and Doors

25 Years Of Experience 1995 Remodeler of the year

410.647.3100

www.brightviewsiding.com 2627258Annapolis MHIC#

Home

INC

Home Remodeling

Interior Design

g Q&A

A full service Interior Design Firm

Sheryl McLean, Allied ASID 301.430.0723 | www. decoriadesigns.com

What are the latest trends that are impacting today’ s Interior Design?

“Everything naturale! In fabrics I see lots of linens, especially Belgium Linens in softer somewhat muted colors. The use of reclaimed woods, hammered metal table tops and unusual recycled materials in furniture.

Finishes with a gray wash like naturally aging driftwood. In every style, cleaner lines in the furnishings. Inviting spaces that are rooted in comfort and casual elegance without being fussy”.

How can you save money and avoid an interior design disaster?

“It’s not just a cliche; using an Interior Designer is your best bet. In most cases purchasing furnishings from the Designer can cost less than purchasing the same items in a retail setting. We select the items that are the best color, scale, construction and style that is unique to your personality.”

As an Interior Designer, I offer the most value to my clients by making sure their investment in their homes are enduring, timeless and unforgettable.

Call Today for Your Appointment!

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 27

Interior Design

Sharon O’Brien

301-445-6336 | www.mydesigningsolutions.com As a Designing Solutions designer I’ll create a space that fits your lifestyle. So if you have a family and pets I’ll design a beautiful comfortable space for the way you really live.

For more than 18 years, Designing Solutions has been providing lasting interior designs that feature comfort and durability over fad and fashion. From the LA Times to the NY Times and everywhere in between, Designing Solutions has been heralded as an innovator for creating down-to-earth “elegance”. Clients range from White House staffers to University Presidents and numerous kids and pets in between. All our clients share a common desire to live and work in thoughtfully designed, comfortable rooms.

Interior Design

Full Service Interior Design Since 2004

410.975.9917 28

Annapolis Home

www.juliebassinteriors.com

Email: julie@juliebassinteriors.com

Window Treatments

Sew Beautiful Custom Window Treatments and more . . .

Margaret Blunt

410.987.5084 | www.sewbeautifulwindows.com Sew Beautiful, owned by Margaret Blunt, celebrates ten years of decorating beautiful homes. Over the past decade, Margaret has designed and fabricated custom window treatments, bedding, cushions and more for homeowners in the greater Annapolis area. A true perfectionist, Margaret prides herself in her attention to detail and the quality of her finished treatments. She works closely with her clients to achieve a desired look within their budget and helps homeowners realize their decorating dreams with unique designs, beautiful fabrics, and a wide range of other products. Margaret is actively involved in her industry and her community through the Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA) and the Severna Park Chamber of Commerce. In July of 2010 she was a proud participant in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Baltimore project. Sew Beautiful offers custom window treatments, including shades, blinds, and plantation shutters, as well as soft furnishings to complete the whole room.

Celebrating 10 Years of Service

Interior Design

Ty Christian

410.956.1701 | www.parkemoor.com 127 mitchell’s chance road, edgewater, md 21037

Q&A

There’s lots of buzz about big changes coming at Parkemoor in 2012, what’s happening?

Any other changes of note?

We’re very excited about our new logo, the new colors in the store, and our new design studio. We’re energized and looking forward to showing our customers that “Shop Small, Shop Local” is not just a good thing for our local economy but also a downright fun experience.

So, come see us!

Since 2004, we’ve focused on “quality, design and price;” in that order.

In 2012, we’re moving “price” to the primary spot in our decision- making process when buying product for the store. We’ll still offer the unusual and unique that we’re know for, but by bringing in new manufacturers, we’ll be able to lower the average price throughout our entire product range.

Will you still carry the higher end product that you’re known for?

Absolutely. Even though our showroom will become predominantly “finished as shown,” we’ll still offer all the custom designed / special order products that we’ve carried in the past. We’ve noticed that our customers are enjoying the “no custom options” shopping experience, it’s much easier for them. They can see a product on the sales floor, fall in love with it and take it home that day.

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 29

Faux Painting

Laura Farrell

301.514.7204 | www.lmistudiosinc.com

Q&A

What size wall is suitable for a mural?

A mural can be any size, even a single element like a trompe l’oeil window or a tiny mouse. Ceilings are good places to consider a mural as well as small niches. In addition I offer custom fine art which can be hung anywhere.

LMI Studios Inc. has made its’ name as one of the DC area’s top decorative finishing companies. Their work can be seen in numerous restaurants and shops throughout the city as well as in countless private residences. They have also been featured on ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition and the DIY Network’s Man Caves.

LMI Studios Inc. specializes in creative high-end interiors including venetian plaster, hand painted murals, lusterstone, faux bois, gilding and many other custom finishes. Trained by the world’s best, their talented artisans can create the perfect finish for your home or business.

Marble & Granite

VieswitTile

our n oom!

Showr

Call today and receive a FREE edge profile upgrade.

Certain restrictions apply.

30

Annapolis Home

1800 Virginia St. Annapolis, MD 21401

P 410.626.2025 F 410.626.2026 info@inhomestone.com

Monday–Friday: 8:30am-5:30pm Saturday: 9:00am-2:00pm

www.inhomestone.com

StoneScapes & Design

and Working together to “Shape Your Outdoor Life”

StoneScapes & Design an award winning Landscape/ Hardscape Contractor specializing in the design & build of unique Outdoor Living Areas.

Established 2002 With over 30 years of combined Hardscape/Landscape experience, StoneScapes & Design prides itself on providing the best professional installation, while maintaining the highest integrity, quality and customer standards. Devotion to quality starts with the people that make comprised of top-notch individuals focusing Hardscaping can be successfully installed year round – allow StoneScapes & Design to “Shape Your Outdoor Life”.

410-689-1533 www.stonescapesdesignmd.com ▲ Small but challenging residential space in Annapolis, Maryland. ▲ Outdoor Living Area unique selections of natural stone and earth products available in the area.

installed by StoneScapes & Design featuring products

Established 1997 Architects, Contractors, and Do-It-Yourselfers,

including an Indoor Showroom and Beautiful Stone Gardens plus a vast selection of boulders, topsoil, crushed stone,

◄

of Display Areas plus a Store is the place to go to visualize your next project.

pebbles, mulch, and so much more. Visit will help you develop fresh ideas and turn your project into reality.

410-766-4242 www.thestonestore.com

7535 Railroad Avenue | Harmans, Maryland | 21077

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 31

Landscaping

Matt Ciminelli

410.741.9683 | www.ciminellislandscape.com 1052 bayard road, lothian, md 20711

Serving Annapolis and the Surrounding Areas Since 1991.

Ciminelli Landscape Services, founded by Matt and Donna Ciminelli in 1991, specializes in landscape construction, pool decks, patios, rain gardens, permeable paving, green roofs, and retaining walls featuring state-of-theart materials. Owner Matt Ciminelli, a Certified Green Roof Professional, lectures about green landscape practices and leads community workshops.He works with each customer to attain a level of satisfaction unequaled by any other firm.

g

Q&A

Can I have a beautiful yard and driveway as well as a sustainable one? Or, do I have to compromise, with native plants that are good for the soil but not much to look at?

Yes, If you plan properly and work with the client to achieve their goals. You can have an environmentally responsible, maintainable and beautiful landscape environment by having an understanding of materials and using better construction techniques. We are able to join the landscape with nature by using a mix of native plantings along with selective non-natives as well as naturalizing with stone. Additionally, since Builder and drainage and storm water Fine Design Awards management are main issues in GREEN AWARD designing a sustainable yard, we 2011-12 install permeable hardscaping Annapolis Home Magazine features and rain gardens to control any water run-off.

32

Annapolis Home

Hal Quayle 410.647.1362 | www.quayleco.com 8 evergreen road, severna park, md 21146 Hal Quayle launched Quayle & Company Design/Build, Inc. in 1989.

Combining his years of experience and creative design talent, Hal creates innovative outdoor environments for homeowners throughout the Annapolis area.

Quayle & Company specializes in inspired spaces that incorporate the natural elements of a home’s existing style with a homeowner’s desire for a beautiful, functional outdoor space. Quality materials and craftsmanship combine with innovative design create breathtaking and useful outdoor living areas for homeowners.

Builder and Fine Design Awards

Grand Prize

Projects include outdoor kitchens, patios, screened porches, pergolas, pools decks, walkways, landscaping and more.

2011-12

Annapolis Home Magazine

Landscaping

Missy Jones 800.280.2103 | www.arch-gardens.com

Q&A

What do Homeowners want from their Landscape?

I want a no maintenance landscape. Is there such a creature? It is our job to educate the client and there is no such thing as a maintenance free landscape.

So, I ask “What’s your poison, weeding or cutting the grass? I prefer to weed, some prefer to cut the grass. So whatever their poison is, I go in the other direction. If they have a large non-wooded lot with existing grass, I try to explain the benefits of leaving a portion natural. Only mow the borders on unused areas to keep a tidy appearance and mow important areas where family congregate. Trying to control nature increases our work load. Plant more shrubs that offer flowers or textural differences, ornamental trees and ground covers that are not invasive, & play down perennials that need to be deadheaded. Finally, increase the amount of hardscaping, which requires little or no maintenance

Before

How can I increase curb appeal?

The house is the big ticket item that people notice. Put effort into that because a couple of plants aren’t going to create the effect that you desire. For instance, add a third color of paint on the trim, hang art or ornamentation on a visible area & jazz up your house number. Then look at your landscape.

How large is the front walkway? Is it welcoming and inviting? Can they find your front door? Have the shrubs been pruned correctly? Does the landscape plantings appear lush or sparse? Does the lawn have a shape and an edge? Curb appeal is in the details.

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 33

Outdoor Living

Bruce Beauchamp

1.800.833.9310 www.midatlanticdeckandfence.com 800 rt 3 south, gambrills, md 21054

Q&A

Spring is not far away and most people tend to procrastinate and put their projects off until spring to start the design process. But I say don’t wait. There are a few steps in the process that can take some time to sort out before any project can get underway. Remember great projects start with a great design. Let’s get started.

How long does the design process take?

Most projects can be designed relatively quickly; it all depends on the complexity of the project and what your ultimate goal may be. What I recommend is to start looking on line and at magazine publications to get the ideas flowing. You can pick and choose from various design ideas and create what we call a wish list. Our estimators carry a portfolio on their lap tops that have thousands of completed projects to help you along with the process; we also have an indoor showroom and outdoor displays so you can start to get familiar with some of the products that are available.

What types of materials are there available for our project?

I am amazed at the number of products that are available today. When I started 25 years ago there was basically only pressure treated pine and that is all people knew. Now there are literally hundreds of decking options from exotic wood decking to low maintenance decking products.

Designer railings have become extremely popular and require very little maintenance. What we try to do is narrow it down for you and advise you based on our past experience with these products and what will be the best your project and your budget.

34 for Annapolis Home

What do you need from us to get the permit process started and how long does it usually take to get a permit?

The most important thing that you need to provide is a copy of your property plat (to scale). You can usually find a copy of the property plat in your settlement papers when you purchased the home. The permit process varies with each project depending on the location of the property and zoning.

Once we get the permit and receive our Homeowners Association approval how long does it take to get the project started?

Well that depends on the time of year. Our busiest season is in the spring and summer but we build all year long. I would say the average is about two weeks once the permits and HOA’s have been released. Also keep in mind that some of the more popular decking options can get oversold and create a shortage in the industry. This doesn’t happen often but it has happened in the past and we can either wait or we could look at another option. Some custom railing manufactures keep a consistent 4 week back log because the railings are made to order and are not in stock.

We usually will not order anything until we have HOA approval and the permits in our hands, in the event that the HOA does not allow a certain product you have picked out.

Once the project is started how long does it usually take to complete my project.

I will say this: a great project is like great food­—it takes time to cook, if you want it right. All kidding aside once again it is based on the size and complexity of the project and of course the weather is a critical factor but a good rule of thumb is about 75 to 100 square feet per day, but every job is different. Screen porches and pagodas tend to take a little longer because of all the detail work involved.

Outdoor Living

Keri Poole

410.451.1000 | www.hottubdepot.net

2100 concord blvd., suite c, crofton, md 21114 Keri Poole is a locally born and raised Annapolis native who has been in the home leisure industry for over 10 years. Hot Tub Depot is entering it’s sixth year with Keri at the helm and strives to keep up their superb customer service!

Q&A

What sets Hot Tub Depot apart from national store brands?

We are able to establish a personal relationship with every customer which allows us to better accommodate their individual needs and wants. We provide detailed and knowledgeable step by step support during the purchasing process and throughout the life of the product!

Custom Shower Enclosures

John & Bonnie Burcham 410.626.1222 | www.marylandshower.com 1809 mcguckian street annapolis, md 21401

Founded in 1995 by John and Bonnie Burcham, Maryland Shower has focused on creating unique custom designed glass shower enclosures.

We have grown to include a knowledgeable and competent team offering full service project management that includes design, template, product selection and installation. Visit our conveniently located showroom in the Annapolis Design District, where you can see a large variety of full size displays with various layouts, glass samples, hardware finishes and options. Whether you’re a contractor or homeowner, Maryland Shower can help you create your customized shower enclosure.

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 35

Kitchen Design

Mark T. White, CKD, CBD 410.263.4900 | www.kitchenencounters.biz

Q&A

Do I need a professional Kitchen Designer to remodel my kitchen?

Most kitchens have opportunities for improvements in the plan and the best way to make the most of your investment is to work with profession- als. Certified Kitchen Designers (CKD) have been tested by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA)to ensure their clients get the benefit of their expertise in functional designs that adhere to established guidelines for safety and convenience. A skilled kitchen designer can help make your dreams a reality and provide the best value for your investment.

If I am building a new home and have an Architect and an Interior Designer do I also need a Kitchen Designer?

There are some very talented architects and interior designers who know enough about the multitude of details that go into a well planned kitchen that sometimes all you need is a cabinet supplier with the expertise to make sure all of the details and specifications are worked out properly. However, in most cases the specific training and knowledge of a kitchen design “specialist” will be the key in creating a kitchen that is unique, functional, safe and inviting.

Builder and Fine Design Awards

BEST KITCHEN 2011-12

Annapolis Home Magazine

Hardware

Walter Neese

410.263.9711 | www.walterworkshardware.com 420 chinquapin round road, annapolis, md 21401 WalterWorks Hardware is much like an Altoids mint—it is one of a kind, full of flavor and “curiously strong.” The store’s sales staff, led by its founder, hardware connoisseur and industry expert Walter Neese, bring to bear over a century of industry experience and know-how. The showroom, open to the public as well as to the trades, reveals an astonishing selection of decorative hardware and plumbing products for projects both big and small.

Stroll the aisles and hold items in your hands. Judge for yourself weight, mass, texture and tone and make the best possible choice for your home. Try doing that on-line!

Q&A

My plumber sent me with express instructions to buy Kohler, Moen or Delta. Why should I consider the unusual brands you carry instead?

Do you let the plumber pick out your wallpaper? What’s comfortable for the plumber is what he installs all the time. If you want something really distinctive, expect to stretch your plumber’s comfort zone. — Walter Neese

36

Annapolis Home

F o r M e r ly K n o W n A S

Specializing in Windows & doors for 24 years!

As the founder and owner of Window & Door Planning Centre (WDPC), Jackie Browning’s commitment to excellence and passion for providing outstanding client service has been instrumental in making WDPC the resource for windows and doors in the Annapolis, Baltimore and greater Maryland areas. WDPC’s experienced team does more than simply take and fulfill orders — they evaluate your needs and design the criteria for an effective and efficient solution no matter what the project and budget may be. In the business since 1989, WDPC has become one of the region’s largest window and door dealers. This means WDPC can offer outstanding pricing and pass those discounts received from window and door suppliers directly to our customers! Discover expertise second-to-none and complimented by an array of product options and a complete suite of services, including: • High-quality, energy-efficient window and door products • Certified and professional installation craftsman, offering five-year installation warranties • Flexible products for new construction, remodeling and historic renovation • Expert consultation and design assistance available

oWner & Founder SinCe 1989

Jackie Browning

MenTion ThiS Ad & reCeive per window* 50 off installation

$

• Free in-home estimates. Call today!

*Minimum purchase of 5 windows

per patio door 150 off installation

$

Proudly offering these fine brands

Offer Expires September 30, 2012

/MyWDPC

WindoW & door PlAnning CenTre

1601 Knecht Avenue, Baltimore, Md 21227

410-242-3000 800-886-7330

@WDPC

wdpc.com

Visit our 6,000 square-foot showroom today!

Store HourS: M – F 9 am -5 pm

SAT 9 am -2 pm

Or call for a personal showroom appointment

Proudly Serving The

Vol. 3,Washington No. 1 2012 37 Baltimore, Annapolis and greater Maryland Areas, including the eastern Shore and d.C.

Mo re F ine S e rvices

SAVE

Never Clean Your Gutters Again 15%

An Extraordinary Getaway!

NOW

Delaware's 5-Star Private Gated Golf Resort Community • Incredible Amenities.

• Year-Round, Weekly and Weekend Rentals Available • 4-bedroom townhome sleeps 10

0% Same As Cash

www.Homeaway.com/168286

if paid in full within 12 months!*

“Service is What We’re All About”

Call For A Free Estimate

(888) 543-5638 www.HarryHelmet.com

* Must be presented at time of estimate. Offer subject to change without notice. Not valid with any other offers and/or promotions. Void where prohibited by law. Not responsible for typos or misprints.

MD MHIC #48622 VA #2705036173 ©2011 Lednor Corporation. 1121 Benfield Boulevard, Suite S, Millersville, MD 21108

America’s #1 Choice for Gutter Protection.

All About Painting 800 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard Severna Park, MD 21146-4732

g

410-544-5928 Joe Kluskey, President

An HGTV Star Comes to Town!

Billy Derian,

HGTV’s design renaissance man, is a guy right after Annapolis Home’s own heart—he loves custom hot rods, interior design, remodeling, landscaping, cooking and sushi (he is a sushi bar designer, owner, and manager.) We like that he is frank about owing his success to trying and failing and that he wants to share his experiences to empower others.

Here are some of his successes. (We will let him tell you face to face about his failures, we are sure he has some good stories.) He hosted Discovery Channel’s Backyard Brigade, created the pilot Killer Grub, and was host and co-creator of the pilot Bad Boy BBQ. He currently hosts Extra Yardage on the DIY Network and was the former host for Showhouse Showdown on HGTV. Outside of the studio he has a spec home redesign company called B2 Design & Media Group, a custom hot rod shop and design group, and most recently, a new aircraft, tour bus and private yacht interior design start-up.

Come on down to Annapolis and meet him yourself, especially if you are or want to be a “do-it-yourselfer.” Billy will speak and answer your questions on Saturday, February 18th at 12pm and 3pm at the Annapolis Home Show at the Armory in Annapolis, MD. The Show takes place February 18-19 and February 25-26. For more information go to www. midatlanticexpos.com.

Tickets: Adults $5.00, Kids 12 and under FREE. Active and retired military are $4.00. Tickets are available at the door.

Location: National Guard Armory, 18 Willow Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. (Off Hudson Street) Free parking is available!

38

Annapolis Home

/ Master Guide The

Index

Custom Building & Design Lundberg Builders, p24 www.lundbergbuilders.com Pyramid Builders www.pyramidconstr.com

Rendition Builders, p.25 www.RenditionBuilders.com River Crest Design Build www.rivercrest.com LangKuhn Architects/ Builders, p26.

www.langkuhn.com

Kitchen and Bath Design Specialists Annapolis Kitchen and Bath www.AnnapolisKitchenAndBath.com

314 Design Studio www.314designstudio.com Kitchen Encounters p.36 www.kitchenencounters.biz Maryland Shower Enclosures, p. 35 www.marylandshower.com

Windows and Siding

Brightview Builders, p.26 www.brightviewbuilders.com Window and Door Planning Center, p.38 www.wdpc.com

Interior Design Cyprian Hill Design www.cyprianhilldesign.com

Outdoor Living: Landscape & Hardscape

Decoria Interior Design, p.27 www.decoriadesigns.com/

Architectural Gardens, p.32 www.arch-gardens.com

Designing Solutions p.18, 28 www.mydesigningsolutions.com

Ciminelli’s Landscape Service, p.31 www.ciminellislandscape.com

Erin Paige Pitts Interior Design erinpaigepittsinteriors.com

Hot Tub Depot, p. 35 www.hottubdepot.net

Julie Bass Interior Design, p.28 Juliebassinteriors.com

McHale Landscape Design, inside cover

Karen Renee Interior Design www.karenreneeinteriors.com

Mid Atlantic Fence and Deck, p.34 www.midatlanticdeckandfence.com

Window Treatments and Faux Painting

www.quayleco.com

Sew Beautiful, p.18, 29 www.sewbeautifulwindows.com

www.mchalelandscape.com

Quayle & Company Design/Build, p.32

Walnut Hill Landscape Company www.walnuthilllandscape.com/

LMI Studios, p.30 www.lmistudios.inc

Granite, Marble & Stone

Fine Hardware

In Home Stone Marble & Granite; In Home Stone Tile, p.30 www.inhomestone.com

WalterWorks, p.36 www.walterworkshardware.com

The Stone Store, p.31 www.thestonestore.com

Gutter

Gutter Helmet, p.38 www.harryhelmet.com/

Special Advertising Section Note: The Master List consists of business partners of Annapolis Home Magazine who have all earned high ratings from the Better Business Bureau and have a reputation for quality design. Not all the businesses are rated by the BBB, however. Most of the business owners we know personally. Hiring a contractor is a decision you should consider carefully and thoroughly. In hiring any contractor, ask for several recommendations from previous customers--and make sure you contact all the recommenders before signing a contract! Entries in bold highlight Annapolis Home advertisers.

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 39

Without Mortar

By Kymberly Taylor Photography by Alison Shaw

40

Annapolis Home

Lew French began his career as a general contractor with an affinity for stone. He came to Martha’s Vineyard more than twenty years ago and built his first fireplace in a common spec home with boulders gathered from the beach and forest. Today, his uncommon fireplaces and landscapes are renowned in Washington, D.C. and Potomac as well as around the globe. He rarely alters his materials and instructs owners to spray the lichen creeping across the stone so it can bloom. Grout lines do not exist—his compositions do not rely on mortar, which is only used for safety. I learned this while driving with Lew French to several projects on Martha’s Vineyard on a windy Thursday last spring. What was unusual about this day was that when we reached a project, we spoke very little. We sat and stared at it, long past the moment when an awkward silence is broken. Eventually, we would talk about the work. What I realize now, after several conversations with Lew, is that he was showing the stone the ultimate respect, allowing it to speak first. Annapolis Home shares an interview with you as well as some of his projects on the following pages. French’s work expands our conception of landscape terrain and hearth and home, which is why this story fulfills Annapolis Home’s mission to bring to our readers those producing the most challenging work of our time.

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 41

Anything

that’s good should work on the

42

Annapolis Home

level of that person—It will strike you as deep as you are.

- Lew French

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 43

Why do you work with stone?

There is a power in stone, the more you leave it alone and study it and let it be what it is, it’s more powerful. It’s doing what it is supposed to do. My job is to augment it, not dominate it or force it to do something it’s not capable of. I try to respect and understand it, not just lump it together. I read the stone to the best of my ability, but I only go as far as I can go.

Do you design before you build?

Often, the final outcome is dictated by the materials. I have an idea and change the design to what material I have. I do have the luxury of time. Stuff has to make sense. I hate that artistic, hokey stuff [stone work] that’s out there.”

44

Annapolis Home

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 45

46

Annapolis Home

Why do you choose one stone over another?

Why you choose a stone is critical, it’s the most important part. I pick each one for its potential. A stone is a visual thing, it’s about acknowledging what it is and choosing it.

There is thought behind each stone I use. I look at basic thing, colors, sizes, shapes. I have a tendency to pick certain stones, shapes and sizes that excite me visually.

Basically, it’s a visual thing. I like to look at stone.

What

are your little stone houses all about?

They are like little hobbit houses, little shelters, like the same thing I’m doing now for a project in the Airondacks.

When I was a kid, I loved Walt Disney. I loved Bambi. It’s almost like you could see Bambie running through the ancient woods. It’s a fairytale thing that in my mind.

They have an organic feel, yet they are structures, they are controlled.

What are you working on now?

I am working on rediscovering an ancient landscape on a thousand acre old ski resort on top of a mountain in the Airondacks. I am trying to rediscover the bedrock already there. The owners built a house and never landscaped it.

I am clearing about 3 acres, creating trails, fine tuning and plantings and have already carted away 150 truckloads of soil covering a great outcrop of stone. I will create vertical walls with small stones, but it is a work in progress. This is not something you can do with a blueprint or by drawing up a design. I am trying to recreate nature, getting rid of soil that is not appropriate and creating a total natural landscape. I am stripping stuff away to its essentials. This is not what a landscape architect would do, but that is not what this needs. You need to let a stone be a stone, a fern be a fern. You don’t need to see here fields of lavender and poppies.

Lew French has a new book forthcoming. His first book, Stone by Design can be purchased at www.amazon.com

Vol. 3, No. 1 2012 47

In

Candles courtesy of Candles on Main

the Kitchen

Petit Cadeau Semi-Seco Sparkling Wine from Wine Shop at Home, Ivonekeenan@verizon.net

By Christine Fillat

With Suzanne Duffy | Oysters With Migonette Sauce & Champagne Enter the rarified air of Suzanne Duffy’s kitchen, where the walls are Hermes tangerine, and the table is festooned with artifacts of Suzanne’s world travels. For an evening of romance, oysters and champagne are the fare. These local oysters, procured from and shucked to order at Graul’s Market, sit naturally in their salty brine. This traditional aphrodisiac on the half shell is transformed with a nip of a mignonette sauce, fresh squeezed lemon juice, cocktail sauce or a nugget of horseradish. Your palate will lead you to whatever combinations work the best for you. It’s very light, very tasty, and, somehow, quite filling (but not too much), perfect for pairing with a crisp glass of bubbly champagne.

Oysters With Mignonette Sauce & Champagne For the MIGNONETTE SAUCE:

• 2 Shallots, minced • Juice of 1 Lemon • 1/4 cup of Red Wine Vinegar • Pinch of Salt

Whisk all ingredients together and serve in a bowl alongside the Oysters.

Christine Fillat lives on the Magothy River and is an afficiando of Chesapeake Bay cooking and living.

48

Annapolis Home

Suzanne, who lives in Annapolis, is a Lifestyle Coordinator specializing in wardrobe and living areas.

Protect:

1

Your car.

2

Your house.

3

Your bank account.

Save an average of $763* Protect yourself with America’s #1 car and home insurance company**.

Give us a call and start saving today.

Kirk Lynn, Agent 2431 Crofton Lane Ste 13 Crofton, MD 21114 Bus: 410-721-1800 kirk.lynn.gh0t@statefarm.com

Debbie Hart, Agent 31 Old Solomons Island Road Annapolis, MD 21401 Bus: 410-266-5353 debbie.hart.lttm@statefarm.com

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

statefarm.com® *Average annual per household savings based on a national 2010 survey of new policyholders who reported savings by switching to State Farm.

1005003

**Based on A.M. Best written premium. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company – Bloomington, IL; State Farm Fire and Casualty Company - Bloomington, IL; State Farm General Insurance Company – Bloomington, IL; State Farm Lloyds – Dallas, TX

I would like to personally invite you to a one-on-one consultation regarding your current investany of the restaurants shown when you attend our meeting.

Many people have watched their hard-earned retirement savings shrink considerably over the past year. In today’s uncertain Fnancial environment, perhaps it’s time to get a professional opinion on your current retirement plan. My name is Michael Steranka and I am a Registered Financial Consultant with over 25 years of experience, offering you a Complimentary Retirement Check-up and Recovery Plan. There is absolutely no cost or obligation. Just for meeting with me, you will Executive Team: Mike Steranka, CEO, Jane Sinclair, President, and Brian Kuhn, Financial Advisor

Some of the topics we’ll cover:

• Is your IRA / 401 (k) beneficiary paperwork filled out correctly? (A common mistake could force your heirs to pay thousands in unnecessary taxes) • Will you outlive your retirement savings? (3 out of 5 of today’s retirees will - 2008 Study by Ernst & Young, LLC) • Are you prepared for the new Estate Tax Laws? (Your current plan may need to be updated to protect your family) • What you can do to start rebuilding your Retirement Nest Egg? This is not a group seminar. This is a private consultation during which we will discuss your retirement goals and concerns in a relaxed environment. You may leave with a better under standing of your retirement nances, along with specific recommendations and a plan of action you can implement right away.

You must take advantage of your free consultation on or before Monday, April 16th, 2012. to receive your FREE gift card.

RSVP 443.308.5200

| RSVP Code: AHM30

Retirement Planning Services, Inc. 8530 Veterans Highway, 2nd Floor Millersville, MD 21108 50

Phone: 443.308.5200 • Fax: 410.451.2864 www.RPS123.com • msteranka@RPS123.com

*Securities offered through Broker Dealer Financial Services Corp. Member FINRA & SIPC.

Annapolis Home Advisory services offered through Investment Advisors Corp., an SEC Registered Investment Advisor.