The Location

The development would come to be known as San Domingo Cove and a person they met there helped them put the modern farmhouse spin on the new home of their dreams that would, indeed, have the much-anticipated view of the water they’d been hoping for.

“I like the idea of the small town St. Michaels, but yet 15 minutes away, you can get pretty much anything you need [in Easton],” Staci adds.

The day the Langs stopped to check out the model home on the 109-acre subdivision, they were surprised to learn, and then even meet, the owner of the home next to the model, who happened to be the builder of many of the San Domingo Cove properties, Brent Paquin of Paquin Design Build in Stevensville. The Langs would not only see the model that day, they also received a personal tour of Paquin’s own home.

“He came right over to us—and this was on a Sunday, too, not even a workday,” Staci says of the impromptu tour. “He was very open and fun to talk to; explaining that he had some design features in his own home he would like us to see.”

The meeting had the Langs walking away with one of the 16, two-acre lots and much confidence in their new builder, who obviously thought enough of the location to want to build his own home there.

The Plans

At that time, the development was just beginning to take shape, but Paquin had some exciting, existing home plans that he told the Langs he could tweak to meet whatever the homeowners’ hearts desired. The one that most closely aligned with their new-home goals was the “Hatton” plan, named for Hatton Garden Farms, the originator of the 109-acre tract of land.

The tweaks would provide the Langs with 3,500 square-feet of heated living space, according to Paquin, and would address the following goals: Advantageous views of the water along San Domingo Creek; a judicious, open floorplan for entertaining (something their home in Rockville lacked); two, open-air porches; a modern, classic farmhouse feel throughout; and four bedrooms, each with its own en suite bath, including two primary suites with one located on the main floor.

San Domingo Cove is now home to 16 distinctive private homes and a 60-acre environmental conservation area rich in wildlife and opportunities like walking trails to enjoy its unique natural resources.

The Finished Product: Inside & Out

“The big goal with all the homes in that community, was to maximize the water views,” Paquin explains. “So, we stacked the waterfront side of the home with as much glass as we could get in there.”

To accomplish this, the Langs chose the plan option that removed some bedrooms from the second-story layout. This enabled the ceiling-to-the-sky effect in the great room. The homeowners are absolutely thrilled with the visual impact this area provides, as you wouldn’t necessarily expect it from the inviting, yet unassuming entry.

“You are fooled when you come in and see the one-story entry, and then all of a sudden, you’re in this huge two-story area, and it all connects—living, dining room, and kitchen,” Erick says.

The discriminating black and white décor scheme throughout the home begins at the entry, where not only first glimpses of San Domingo Creek can be seen through the glass front door panel, but also of the home’s enhanced architectural aspects of design. This includes its black and stainless cable rail system staircase that leads to a stunning overlook effect from the residence’s second floor.

“When you’re up there, there’s a door for each bedroom. So, essentially when you walk out of each bedroom, you look out to those windows for a high-level view down the creek,” Erick says.

Other areas of the home that the Langs take particular pride in, include their custom-designed kitchen with rustic wood beams, first-floor powder room with water-pump style faucet, three guest bedrooms, each with its own bath, and the home’s cherished front and back porches.

“We love to have guests come to stay, and we felt it very important that each one feels they have their own personal space when they’re staying with us,” Staci says of their accommodations.

And despite the many options for outdoor living these days, the Langs chose to keep these spaces simple and accommodating, as well.

“We did not want the porches screened in; we preferred them to have an open-air effect, and we use them and the pool a lot—even when we don’t have guests over,” Staci says.

Erick adds that the patio area surrounding the pool was specifically designed to provide an unobstructed view of the water from the inside out. “When you’re looking out to the water, you don’t have patio furniture in the way of the view.”

Each living space is detailed to reflect every aspect of how the family lives and what they enjoy, right down to the essential mudroom that the family also uses often when returning from their waterfront adventures in paddleboarding, boating, and kayaking.

For a brief period after the home was finished in 2018, the Langs were content to use it primarily as a weekend and vacation retreat, but that situation did not last long. Erick confirms that they have wrestled away those last suburban roots from the ground in Rockville.