This exquisite four parcel, sixty-five acre property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located on one of Kent County’s highest points, at the intersection of two state routes near Chestertown. The two-story, five-bay wide, two bays deep, center hall plan was built in 1858, during the transition from Greek Revival to Italianate architectural styles. From its high vantage point, the house sits in a well maintained landscape of lawn, mature shade trees, woods, wild flowers, native prairie grasses and a large pond. The house’s shallow hipped roof is topped by a belvedere that offers stunning 360 degree vistas of the surrounding area.  

The original post and beam wooden clapboard house has a foundation of local fieldstone and brick. The cornice, porch beam and the belvedere are all embellished with “cyma recta” (S-shaped brackets with a concave upper curve and convex lower curve). I admired how the color of the brackets accentuated their form and echoed the color of the window trim, the front entry doors and the pilasters at each corner. 

The existing porch is a reconstruction that faithfully followed the original design by means of historic photographs and on-site archeological evidence. The Doric columns rest on copper capped brick piers and the center bay of the porch is wider than the other four bays to accentuate the entry doors, sidelights and full transom. The soft colors of the exterior walls and trim, with the accents of the blue trim and the compact massing creates great appeal.  

In 1996, the porch’s full wooden handrail was replaced by a simple top and bottom rail for greater transparency. I lingered at the front porch to admire the details of the acorn finials atop the two newel posts at the end of the stair run and the sly and clever acorn cap shape that was carved at the bottom of each column’s base. (Every house should have a touch of whimsy for pure delight!).

I also admired how the doors and the long windows rise to the underside of the ceiling. The finishing touch is the light blue beadboard ceiling whose color the Gullah people of South Carolina believed could ward off evil spirits; it also had a practical reason since lime in the paint was a natural insect repellent.  

When I entered the foyer, the interior design clearly evoked the influence of the house’ original historic period. The characteristic deeply embossed surface of the “Lincrusta” wall covering was invented in 1877 and this technique is still found in historic houses and restoration projects. The graceful “U” shaped stair’s design features thick balusters, decorative brackets and the flair at the bottom tread that meets the heavily articulated newel post. The ivory button atop the newel post signifies that the owners have no mortgage, a tradition that began in the 1930’s. I admired the eleven foot ceiling and the beautiful pine floors that flow throughout the original part of the house and the finishing touches of the period medallion and pendant fixture. Amazingly, the original part of the house still has plaster walls and ceilings.  From the front entry door, there is a clear vista through the original part of the house to the rear of the addition.  

To the right of the foyer is the dining room, where the owners discovered the original mahogany faux painting on both the dining room’s window and door trim. They researched the 19th century formulas and reproduced this graining throughout the original part of the house. I also learned that the owners added the chandelier medallions and crown moldings that are period appropriate. The crown living room’s crown molding was the work of artisans from DC’s Monumental Plaster Moulding. The current owners carefully duplicated their profile of the crown molding for the dining room’s molding and crafted it themselves; clearly, this restoration/renovation was a labor of love for them. 

To the left of the foyer is the living room; as in most restoration projects, the owners removed the exterior siding to add insulation and electrical wiring so the original plaster walls could be preserved. 

My fave childhood toy was a dollhouse so I was drawn to the firebox infilled with what I thought was a dollhouse, but I discovered it is actually a paper mache replica of the house that has its pride of place during the warm months in the firebox. The spacious living room accommodates a baby grand piano and ample seating space. French doors lead to the adjacent library for continuous circulation  through the house. 

The library’s interior finishes include Saltillo tile flooring from Mexico, bespoke black walnut millwork by a local artisan woodworker and a paneled ceiling whose finish matches the millwork. The pair of wide doors and full transom offers a pastoral view of the landscape when one needs a respite from computer work. 

In contrast to the original house’s historic finishes, the main floor of the addition at the rear of the house has light colored finishes and an open plan kitchen-informal dining and family room. The kitchen is the hub of the house and is accessed from both the foyer and the library. The light gray wood ceiling floats over the gray and white checkboard floor with a diagonal pattern to visually stretch the space. The stainless steel island and pot rack adds an industrial touch and is surrounded by white cabinetry whose upper cabinets rise to the underside of the molding. 

As I walked through the kitchen, the truncated “L” shaped open plan kitchen-informal dining and family room came increasingly into view. The dramatic informal dining area is open to the addition’s second floor “bridge” that connects the original part of the house to the addition. Above the bridge, a skylight filters daylight and moonlight below. (Skylights are a great way to get direct sun into rooms; rule of thumb is to calculate your floor area and then take 5% of the floor area for rooms with many windows and 15% for rooms with few windows). 

Centered in the space, the bridge also cleverly hides conduit for the pendant fixture over the table. The family room’s geometry is offset to create a cozy sitting area grouped around the fireplace with corner windows for panoramic landscape views.

The larger area of the family room is designed for TV viewing. Two pairs of hinged French doors when folded back  to the screened porch create a warm weather indoor-outdoor-room for great flow between the rooms. This part of the addition has 8’-6” ceilings to create cozy spaces for relaxing with family and friends..

The offset spaces of the screened porch create two sitting areas and the horizontal framing is positioned to maximize clear views of the landscape. The cushioned rattan settee with upholstered cushions in this corner area of the screened porch beckons one to relax, surrounded by pastoral views of the landscape and the pond beyond.  A pair of French doors leads to steps to the pool area.

The screened porch area adjacent to the informal dining area has two strategically placed chairs and a side table ( for morning coffee or an aperitivo, perhaps?) -a perfect spot to relax at the beginning or end of the day while enjoying panoramic views of the landscape.

To begin my tour of the second floor, I retraced my steps to the foyer stair. The second floor contains the primary ensuite, one guest ensuite, four other guest bedrooms, baths and the stair to the rooftop belvedere. The finishes of this spacious guest ensuite at one of the front corners of the house echo the historic colors of the original main floor rooms. The beautiful antique wood bed is positioned for views from the windows on each corner wall; the other corner wall’s windows flank a fireplace to create a welcoming sitting area. 

My fave guest bedroom is this charming room with a bay window projecting from the exterior wall. The window seat is flanked by two closets with extra storage above and the mirrors on the closet doors and the neutral color palette expand the space. The finishing touches of blue accents, the contemporary Chevron pattern rug and the furnishings create an serene retreat for any guest.

This office/guest bedroom is located at the offset in the rear of the addition that steps back to the primary ensuite that creates corner windows for this room. From both the workspace area and the cushioned Craftsman style chairs, the panoramic views of the landscape unfold.   

This guest bath was my fave one for both its wood lavatory and vessel bowl that float over the tile floor and the glass walled shower that maintains the spatial volume. The polygonal dark tile flooring balances the white walls and ceiling and the rug runner with its subtle geometric pattern is the perfect accent. 

The second floor hall blends into the bridge that overlooks the informal dining room below and ends at the primary ensuite. The natural light from the rectangular pitched skylight above and the  contemporary uplights around the perimeter of the space create a dramatic space, especially when the uplights are turned on in the evening.  

 

The primary ensuite’s bedroom is located at the rear of the addition and its interior architecture features a tray ceiling that rises to 10 feet. I admired how the perimeter molding defines the spring line of the tray ceiling’s sloped sides that are painted the same soothing aqua of the walls below. The tray meets the flat portion of the ceiling and is finished with the same light gray wood of the kitchen. The large bathroom with a corner jacuzzi tub and closets complete the ensuite.  A pair of French doors lead to the private screened porch. 

This cozy space is a warm weather snug for the primary bedroom with its bird’s eye views from the wrap-around windows overlooking the landscape and pond through the mature trees that surround the room. 

I saved the best view for last and climbed the stair to the belvedere and slowly turned around to savor the 360 degree view. Historically, small cupolas penetrated roofs to provide both natural light and ventilation; belvederes were larger and were used to provide views or to watch over one’s property.

As an architect, I was fascinated by the complexity of the roof’s plan with seven intersecting roof planes of hipped, valley and ridge forms. Rainwater is carried away by a built-in gutter system. The current owners of this unique house realized that the best long term roofing solution would be a hand turned copper batten system. This ambitious project began in 1999 and ended in 2025. This solution, traditionally used for monumental public buildings for its lifetime of over 200 years, was a very generous one for the current owners who have been exceptional stewards. 

As I took my leave of this historic gem, I stood on the front porch and once again savored the fall colors and textures of the landscape and hardscape that surround Gobbler Hill. The seamless addition not only respects the original structure’s massing, color palette and details but also creates an updated family home that reflects today’s family lifestyle. 

The property’s sixty-five acres offer expansive vistas through mature trees of fields, native prairie grasses, wild flowers, woods, gardens and a large pond.  Outdoor rooms of the full front porch , wrap-around screened porch on the first floor, the primary suite’s private screened porch and the poured concrete in-ground pool inlaid with tile enable one to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

Gobbler Hill is a wonderful example of preservation/restoration of a National Registry of Historic Places property. Bravissimo!! and Bravissima!! to the owners whose meticulous care of this important piece of Kent County’s architectural history will enable them to pass on “Gobbler Hill” to the next very lucky owners to continue its preservation and protection for years to come.  

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For more information about this property, contact Tracy Stone of Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company at 410-778-0330 (o), 443-480-0610 (c), or [email protected] , For more photographs and pricing, visit

www.tracystonehomes.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Aerial Photography by Dylan Wayne, Shore Studios, www.shorestudiosdrone.com

Photography by Patty Hill, www.pattyhillphotography.com , (410) 441-4719

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Before I visited this property, I checked my primary reference book, “Where Land and Water Intertwine” but I found no home named “Westland”; I had assumed today’s featured house, built in 2005, had been built on the site of a home that had been demolished long ago since I drove down a straight gravel drive lined with old, majestic oak trees. I soon glimpsed a view of a stone façade and as I drew nearer, the house soon revealed its full magnificent front facade of timeless architecture and the highest quality of construction and craftmanship.  

The house enjoys total privacy from its being sited on 5.44 acres, surrounded by Haskins Cove and Trippe Creek to the Tred Avon River. The width of the SE/SW facing shoreline inspired the gifted architects Hammond and Wilson of Annapolis to place the house parallel to the shoreline so all the main rooms of the house can enjoy panoramic water views and sunsets. 

After parking my car on the gravel motor court, I slowly savored the beauty of the front façade’s massing and textures. The roof’s slate shingles glide down to the eaves with a Gallic flair, supported by large scrolled brackets against a backdrop of vertical siding above the stone. Multiple gables outlined in white trim, bay window projections with copper roofing and multi-paned windows create very appealing massing that enhance the rectangular geometry to create a harmonious composition.  

As I walked around the house, every elevation was beautifully detailed.  This partial rear elevation with the mix of gable and shed dormers carefully placed  against the steep roof the gable projection of the screened porch and breakfast area adds great architectural character. Outdoor rooms of the stone terrace between the lanai off the family room opposite the screened porch have direct access to the pool area. One side of the pool surround expands in width to easily accommodate chaise lounges with umbrellas for shade.  I especially admired how the architects added a covered walkway with columns  not only connected the screened porch to the lanai but it was also a clever way to cover the solid wall of the garage. 

The long rear elevation is carefully detailed with multiple gables, chimneys, shed roofs over doors, bay windows with deep copper colored shed roofs and the stunning two-story bay wall projection at the center of the house break up the length of the façade.

After being totally captivated by the sheer perfection of the exteriors, I was  prepared for the interior architecture and interior design to exceed my expectations and indeed they did. The front door opens into a spacious foyer on axis with the two-story living room. The foyer’s tile flooring laid on the diagonal visually expands the space even more and the walls’ finish resembling stucco, the wide arched topped wall openings and the graceful double curvature of the stair with its thin iron spindles accented by filigree motifs create a grand entrance. The niches in the walls have painted scenes of various areas of the property.  

The dramatic two-story living room has a sloped chimney breast that rises to meet the cornice of the coffered ceiling that is articulated with molding. The window wall surrounding the pair of French doors leading to steps down to the lawn offers views of the landscape from both floors of the house. I admired the pair of mirrors on either side of the chimney breast that are ‘windows” to reflect the movement through the room and the serene and the sophisticated neutral palette of the furnishings.

As I stood in the middle of this exquisite room, I looked back to admire the “musicians’ balcony” at the second floor that must be a very pleasant sitting area for the second floor bedrooms. The subtle curvature of the balcony above the arched wall defines the boundary between the foyer and the living room.

I walked back through the foyer to the dining room to discover its interior design of subtle wallpaper, moldings framing the bay wall projection and the arched wall opening framing the view of the stair. The elegant furnishings, especially the inlaid wood table, set the scene for memorable dinner parties and family celebrations. No detail was overlooked by the architects-even the high grille is decorative!

Off the dining room is this wine storage room with bespoke cabinetry and the angled wall of the wine racks is due to its adjacency to the hall from the foyer to the family room.  Next to the wine storage is a wet bar with a wall opening to the adjacent family room. 

The kitchen is clearly the hub of the house with its connections to the family room, breakfast room and the screened porch for easy flow among the rooms and outdoors.  The window over the sink has a view to the adjacent screened porch. The earth tones of the floor tiles highlights the white of the bespoke cabinets and the backsplashes and the countertops add subtle textures.  I admired how the upper cabinets rise to the underside of the ceiling and how the top upper cabinets are backlit.

The family room’s chimney balances the living room’s chimney in the roofscape and the coffered ceiling echoes the ceiling treatment of the living room. The kitchen’s flooring flows into the family room and bespoke millwork surrounds the TV above the fireplace. The rear wall is infilled with three pairs of French doors  with transoms above that lead to the extension of the terrace off the living room for easy indoor-outdoor flow. 

Another elliptical arch over a wide wall opening connects the family room to the breakfast room/informal dining area. The graceful oval recessed fresco ceiling was inspired by trees found on the property. The wrap-around windows of the room offer panoramic views of the lawn and the water.

The  cozy screened porch with wrap-around window panes for the cooler months meets my definition of a Snug-an intimate space for sitting or dining. I especially liked the rug with its pattern mimicking brick laid in a herringbone pattern and how the flat part of the ceiling contains discreet downlights, leaving the sloped portion for exposed beams and decking finished in bead board. The accent of the side stone wall illustrates the beauty of the stone’s color variation.

A service hall behind the kitchen and screened porch leads to a secondary stair to the upper level next to the pantry,  bath, office/work out area, laundry and mudroom. The latter has a bench for taking off wellies and hanging up jackets with closed storage above. Two other closets contain ample storage for family coats.

At the end of the service hall  are steps leading down to the two-car garage. A half flight of steps lead down to this room that is at ground level. I loved the dramatic interior architecture from the white massive trusses with subtle curved bottom chords and the sleek white gypsum board ceiling that reflect the sunlight.  The exterior walls are infilled with windows and doors for panoramic views of the lawn and water and the French doors lead to the lanai overlooking the pool area.

The lanai is on axis with the centerline of the pool and is a perfect spot for respite from the sun after a swim or a day on the water. I especially liked the detail of the brackets at each exterior corner of the porch’s columns, the subtle colors of the stone flooring and the stepping stones set into the grass that separates the openness of the pool and the semi-enclosure of the lanai.   

To complete my tour of the main floor, I went back through the foyer to the primary bedroom ensuite. This room that was beautifully detailed with moldings and pilasters to give texture to the walls and the bespoke millwork has dual uses as an office and a sitting room for the primary suite. I especially liked the detailing of the rear wall with its corner pilasters framing the pair of French doors flanked by full sidelights. Moldings instead of transoms above the French doors match the moldings  on the side wall to unify the room’s interior architecture. The table desk and chair are perfect for catching up on emails. Instead of a sundial inlaid in the floor, this sundial is painted onto the ceiling for a clever decorative touch.

The corner primary bedroom has panoramic views of the lawn and water from the rear wall’s pair of French doors and full height sidelights and the side wall’s bay projection infilled with windows.  The bay window is a cozy spot for two chairs and an ottoman for relaxing at the end of the day to enjoy the views of the sunset. I especially liked how the shallow tray ceiling was outlined in the same color of the walls that accentuates its geometry and how the wood pencil post bedframe maintains the spatial volume.

The primary bath with heated stone floors also has a bay wall projection that creates the alcove for the jacuzzi tub. The angled corner wall separates the two dropped ceiling areas over the tub and the dressing table. Opposite the tub is the shower enclosed in angled glass walls and a side door. The ensuite is completed by two large walk-in closets with bespoke millwork. One closet has a window seat beneath a wide window for daylight. 

The second floor has another primary suite to allow parents with young children to be near them until the children are older. The parents can then move to the first floor primary suite when they are empty nesters to age in place. This second floor primary ensuite’s bedroom offers panoramic bird’s eye views of the water from its location at the waterside corner of the house. A large bathroom and walk-in closet complete the ensuite.

The second floor is laid out well for privacy with large closets and bathrooms or other spaces between the bedrooms. At the opposite waterside corner of the house from the primary bedroom is this spacious guest suite. It has a large walk-in closet and shares a bath with the front corner bedroom. The triple unit window provides broad views of the water. If I were lucky to be a guest, I would hope to claim this charming ensuite with its blue and white interior design that continues into the shared bath. 

I admired the blue and white wallpaper that is perfectly sized for the room’s dimensions and spatial volume. Having both a shower and a tub is a plus and the plantation shutters can be adjusted as needed. As I stood in front of the marble dual lavatory below the mirror that infills the entire wall, I enjoyed the view of the water that is reflected through the window over the tub. 

The remainder of the second floor has two other guest bedrooms, a large recreation room and a media room so there is plenty of rainy day options for both family and guests!

One of my fave quotes about architecture is by the architect Le Corbusier: “Space and Light and Order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep”. I could not resist having this exquisite nocturnal photograph as the coda to my article. The forms of the architecture come alive with the house’s total illumination! 

 Walking through the spaces of this exquisite house, I felt like Goldilocks since the rooms all felt “right” – each space was perfectly sized for the furnishings that I forgot the house contained more than 12,600 gsf that is not only impressive to guests but it is also at its heart, a family home.  

The house was carefully sited along the serene waters of Trippe Creek leading to the Tred Avon River, with deep water access from the private pier with  8’ MLW, full utilities, lifts for both boats or jet skis. Outdoor rooms of the stone terrace between the screened porch and the lanai and the heated waterfront pool area create easy indoor-outdoor flow for al-fresco living. 

Interior architectural elements of the foyer’s graceful double curvature stair, the stone chimney breast whose sloped sides rises to the underside of the living room’s coffered ceiling, other coffered and tray ceilings, floor to ceiling doors and windows for panoramic views of the landscape and water, match the beauty of the timeless architecture.  The property also contains a detached garage with a guest suite above for extended stays. This stately home reflects highest level of achievement in design, materials, uncompromising attentiveness to details and craftsmanship that the dream team of Owner, Architect, Contractor and Craftspeople achieved-Bravissimo!

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For details about this property, contact Chuck Mangold, Jr., at 410-822-6665 (o), 410-924-8833 (c), or [email protected]. For more pictures and pricing, visit www.6068westlandroad.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Jennifer Madino
Aerials by Suzanne Silverstein
Architecture by Hammond Wilson, www.hammondwilson.com, (410) 267-6041
Construction by Pyramid Builders, www.pyramid-builders.com, (410) 571-7707

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.