After three years of searching the mid-Atlantic seaboard for just the right property, our feature homeowners thought that their intention to relocate from their 10-acre homestead in Nashville to a new, waterfront residence would not be realized. However, persistence and a willingness to reassess their goals provided them with a unique opportunity beyond their imagination.
Little Magothy
The task was to update a 2003 kitchen in an otherwise completely remodeled home. We replaced and modified the windows, created dramatic trusses, and added new flooring. The cabinet layout focused on cooking and entertainment. A single island was replaced with two separate islands for food preparation and dining. The flush masonry fireplace was raised to create a sitting hearth and to improve the views of the winter fires from the cooking area.
Treasured Condo
Outside the Annapolis condominium that recent downsizers Ken and Maureen Reightler now call home, it’s only a short walk to the U.S. Naval Academy or the historic downtown district. But step inside, and you’re looking at a home that pays tribute to a life of travel and moving around from place to place.
It’s a home that designer Melissa McLay of Melissa McLay Interiors describes as a “cozy, eclectic mix of styles and materials,” all drawing inspiration from the art and novelties the Reightlers have collected throughout their adventurous life together.
Warm Embrace
A design team conceives a new home with timeless appeal on the shores of the South River.
Though it’s a quick drive or motorboat jaunt from the heart of Annapolis, a three-and-a-half-acre wooded parcel with its own strip of beach on the South River feels far removed from the bustle of Maryland’s capital. Tami and Rick Matson discovered the gem on their search for a new home near the bay. For years, they’d spent laid-back weekends in a small getaway they’d owned in Edgewater, less than an hour’s drive from their Gaithersburg residence. When the youngest of their four kids went off to college, the Matsons decided to trade both homes for permanent digs on the shore.
For the Love of Nature
An AIA award-winning LEED Gold Certified residence in Annapolis captures views, leverages environmentally conscious materials and fulfills the nature-inspired wish list of a couple who paid attention to all the details.
Sustainability and a waterfront setting are two standout aspects of the Annapolis modern farmhouse that owners Frank and Lori Cicero built with an intention of eventually retiring there, close to their children and families.
The couple found the rare, vacant lot on Weems Creek in Annapolis proper — and it’s an irregularly shaped property set in a community that once populated with 1930s cottage homes. “The landowner divided the property, tore down the cottages and created about a half-dozen lots,” said Marta Hansen, architect, AIA, LEED AP at Hansen Architects in Annapolis.
2020 Annapolis Home Builder and Fine Design Awards
Award: First Place for Excellence in Custom Building, by Annapolis Home Magazine
Project: Little Magothy
This renovation tells the story of a classic 1930s farmhouse, reimagined. The complete overhaul modernized and expanded the original home while enhancing the visibility of its stunning views of the Little Magothy River.
The undertaking was enormous. The home’s original interior was completely gutted, its mechanical systems replaced to reduce energy demands, and the aging structure stabilized. A 3,000-square foot addition provides copious, modernized space. Many of the renovations were thoughtfully planned to allow for enhanced enjoyment of the bucolic surroundings. The first-floor rooms open to an expansive deck with unobstructed views looking north to Gibson Island and the Chesapeake Bay. The bedroom suites share the waterfront view and an eastern exposure to surrounding cornfields that are still farmed yearly. The garage-turned-poolhouse was renovated to add a home office, guest rooms with full bathroom, a laundry room, a changing room for pool guests, and a three-car garage. Atop the garage sits an additional guest room and home gym. A large gathering space in the pool house features 24 ft. ceilings, a kitchen, and a stone fireplace. A loft area, accessible only by a custom teak ladder, offers three built-in bunks. The expansive renovations render the property ripe for memory making.
A Vision on Weems Creek
Homeowners Frank Cicero and his wife Lori moved into their Annapolis home in November 2018, but the vision for it began almost a decade earlier. Cicero knew he wanted a house with a water view. Having traveled the country and grown up on Baltimore’s east side, he was familiar with Annapolis and drawn to its aesthetic appeal.
4 Boys and a Home
Annapolis Home Magazine recently featured Gate One Builders co-owner, Matt Long for his work renovating a 40-year-old house in Annapolis. The article features stunning images of the completed overhaul, including basement with a custom basketball court, containing professional grade sports court flooring. In it, Matt talks about their relationship with the residents, having previously renovated the family’s Eastport home, and the creative liberties granted to Gate One Builders when it came to sourcing new materials and the interior trim work.
Modern Nest
Annapolis Home Magazine recently featured Gate One Builders co-owner, Matt Long for his work renovating a 35-year-old house in Annapolis. The article features stunning images of the completed overhaul. In it, Matt talks about his initial hesitation due to the complexity of the project, which ultimately “couldn’t have gone better.”
How to protect a waterfront home from storm damage
Gate One Builders co-owner, Matt Long was recently featured in The Baltimore Sun discussing the protection of waterfront homes from storm damage. In the article, Matt discusses the fine line between form and function as it pertains to severe weather and curb appeal.