Victorian-era cottage, circa 1865, stone and wood frame with shingle roof, front and rear screen porches.  Five bedrooms, 3.5 baths over 3 levels and 2, 648 sq. ft. High ceilings, grand staircase, large rooms, hardwood floors throughout. Living room and dining room with fireplaces, kitchen with original exterior wall. Lower level studio and office space. Whole house generator.  Lush private setting on .3 acre property, sold in as-is condition: $385,000

What: Recently listed, this house was the longtime home of renowned Baltimore artist Herman Maril, whose nature-based, pared-down, early conceptual works are in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Phillips Gallery in Washington D.C. and museums throughout the world.

Maril died in 1986, but his son David (former sportswriter and Voting Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame) still owns the house. It is a special place with lots of quirks, which will endear it to the right buyer. Built into a hillside, the location feels more remote than it actually is. The overgrown garden and adjoining lot are a birder’s paradise. The kitchen has a stone wall, once the exterior wall of the house. Windows occur in unexpected places. Bathrooms are vintage 1970s. It is rich in charm and possibilities. The “as-in” condition should not scare you. The systems are good, the roof is less than 10 years old, and it has been maintained. While there’s not a lot of interior architectural detail, the windows are large and there is a lot of light.

Where: Down a crooked lane, through a meadow, to a sunlit clearing in the woods — Roxbury Place is a tiny enclave of three or four unusually pretty Victorian cottages, built as summer homes for Baltimore City dwellers. Although the feeling here is of deep country, in fact, it is just about a half mile, and a nice walk, to Mt. Washington Village, with its Light Rail stop, schools, restaurants and shops. Whole Foods is a little bit further.

Would Suit: Romantics with off-the-grid inclinations, nature lovers

 Why: You never met a quirk you didn’t like…

Why Not: Needs new kitchen, new baths, and central air —  probably sooner rather than later.

NB: Down the lane from the house, the city is extending the Jones Falls Trail a biking/walking trail that will continue down to the Inner Harbor when completed.

American traditional style house in wood clapboard, circa 1972. Five bedrooms, 5.5 baths over two stories and 5,000 sq. ft., with large finished lower level.  Entrance foyer, living room, dining room, library/den, gourmet kitchen. Large family room off kitchen with wood beamed ceilings, wet bar, fireplace with leather bench seating, french doors to terrace. First-floor en suite master bedroom with French doors, custom dressing/closet room. Full bath on lower level, plus bar and entertainment area. Landscaped gardens, guesthouse with bedroom and full bath. Pool house with bar and fridge, garden shed. Central a/c, two-car attached garage, extensive bluestone hardscaping, 1.5 acre property: $1,389,000

What: You could spend less, or a lot more, for a house out here in the Valley. There are 200-year-old homes that need work, new cul-de-sac McMansions, and vinyl-sided ranchers.  This house hits the sweet spot, with lots of charm, a sense of tradition, and a completely updated, highly livable interior.  It has the elusive first-floor master bedroom, lots of casual entertaining space, and views from the terrace, over the pool, to a field of horses beyond. The design, a rambling Cape with wings on either side, retains all the sweetness of its cottage origins, but with a smart and elegant layout. It’s not until you’re inside that you realize how roomy it is. The pool, beautifully sited, draws you through the back of the house and out on to the terrace. From here, life looks grand.

Where:  Part of the charm of this house is its country, but not remote country location. From here, its just 10 minutes to McDonogh School drop-off and Reisterstown Road shopping.  Greenspring Station is 10 minutes in the other direction. Wegmans at Foundry Row is only two miles away. The very fine golf courses of the Caves Valley Golf Club, the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club and the Baltimore Country Club are nearby.  It’s at least a half an hour though if you’re commuting to Harbor East.

Why: In the summer, it feels like a resort.

Why Not:  We’re looking for a 200-year-old home that needs work …

Would Suit: Laid-back (poolside) loungers with a county orientation.

NB: A copper-topped cupola, found and rescued from a schoolhouse on the Eastern Shore, is a distinctive feature along the garden path.

Federal style detached brick townhouse, circa 1845, with rear carriage house and separate apartment (both with tenants).  Three bedrooms, three and a half baths over three stories and 6,120 sq. ft. All in fair condition and needing work. Entrance hall with tile floors, large dining room with butler’s pantry and office, elliptical staircase, living room with gas fireplace, kitchen. Second-floor library, en suite master bedroom, and bath. Third floor with two beds, two full baths.  Three story elevator, central a/c (partial). Rear garden with fountain and koi pond: $975,000

Open House: Wednesday, 12-3PM 

What: George Howard was the second son of John Eager Howard and Governor of Maryland from 1831- 1833. This was his house, designated a landmark in 1998 by the Commission of Historic Architectural Preservation (CHAP), which presumably will throw in some money to help with the renovations. The photos here do not do it justice, so if you are in the market, try to attend the Open House on Wednesday, May 1.

Set back from the street behind a beautiful (original) wrought iron gate, 8 E. Madison Street has one of the most inviting facades of any of the great historic Baltimore townhomes. A large magnolia tree partially screens the entrance, and there are gardens in front and rear. A lovely carriage house at the back, covered in climbing roses and renovated by architect Walter Schamu, currently has a tenant. There is another apartment with a tenant at the rear of the main house. Together, the rental income is approximately $3,000 per month.

Lived in for many years by social activists and popular Mt. Vernon couple Stanley Mazer and Marianne Githens — who hosted many memorable dinner parties in the grand dining room — the house has an eclectic, bohemian air. A new owner, with a different aesthetic, will be helped by its carved moldings, original Georgia pine floors and lots of sun, which cheers things up.

Where: Madison Street is apparently far more glamorous now than in 1833 when it was named for former President James Madison. After a tour of his namesake street, Madison jokingly remarked: “It is not much of an honor to have a street named for you that starts at a charity school, runs past a poorhouse and ends at the penitentiary.” 8 E. Madison Street is at the corner of Lovegrove Street —  in these days, a prime Mt. Vernon location — a short walk to the Peabody Music Conservatory and Walters Art Museum as well as Mt. Vernon’s many popular restaurants, coffee shops, and bars.

Why: Chance to live in the Governor’s Mansion — who could resist? Plus, in Georgetown, it would be five times the price.

Why Not: The usual renovation headaches.

Would Suit: Sophisticated, history-loving urbanites.

NB: Listing says that house “does not have multi-family license” and “rental registration has not been completed.” Seems odd for a place with two rental units.

English Cotswold-style manor house, circa 1925, in stone with slate roof, copper gutters, and trim.  Multiple terraces, swimming pool, gardens, pond, guest quarters and badminton barn, all in fair condition, needing work. Ten-plus bedrooms, nine baths over three stories and 12,692 sq. ft. Entry foyer with 10′ ceilings, through-vista to gardens, well-proportioned rooms, hardwood floors,  seven fireplaces, large windows and French doors with views over conservation land. Idyllic 3.72-acre property with a two-car garage, extensive hardscaping, and mature trees: $2,400,000

What: In 1924, a notice in the Baltimore Sun announced the building of “two large residences on Bellona Avenue” to the tune of $150,000 – one for F. Barton Harvey, the founder of a Baltimore insurance firm, and another for his mother-in-law, Mrs. Robert Dixon Hopkins.  This is the larger and grander stone house, where the F. Barton Harveys would raise seven children, many of whom would go on to be leading figures of Baltimore in the 20^th century. One of the sons, Judge Alexander Harvey II, would raise his own family here.

The house was designed by Boston architecture firm Parker, Thomas and Rice — who also designed Baltimore’s Alex. Brown building, Belvedere Hotel, Gilman School and Johns Hopkins Homewood campus (so, no slouches). It’s an aristocratic spread, and everything was done top-of-the-line: hardwood floors, casement windows, archways, crown moldings, built-ins, deep window sills, big linen closets –- perfect for a century of family games and gatherings, weddings and celebrations, and certainly among the most admired of Baltimore homes.

Now, it needs attention. From the old swimming pool in the terraced “wedding garden” to the wiring in the badminton/basketball barn, things have been maintained – but not updated. On the upside, you can reconfigure and renovate guilt-free, confident that your efforts will be rewarded. A house like this gives more than it takes.

Where: Brightside Road runs south off Bellona Avenue in the Woodbrook neighborhood of Baltimore County, curving around and ending at Lake Roland Park.  It’s a fine location, just over the Baltimore City line, nestled between Roland Park and Ruxton. Residents keep close track of the eagles that nest above the lake. This property backs onto the land and gardens of Tyrconnell, just visible through the woods. It’s about a 20-minute drive to downtown Baltimore from here via Charles Street, about 10 minutes to Roland Park schools. Graul’s and Eddie’s supermarkets, each about a three-minute drive, are neighborhood favorites.

Why:  Love at first sight. Looking for a project. Anglophiles.

Why Not: No swimming in the pond due to snapping turtle occupant.

Would Suit: Active family with dynastic ambitions and some dosh, ready to take the reins for another century.

 NB: If your kids get one look at the badminton barn, let alone the fishing pond — there will be no going back. You will have to buy the house.

Modern, farmhouse-style waterfront house, circa 2000, with asphalt roof, vinyl siding, concrete slab foundation. Five bedrooms, four and a half baths over 7,210 sq. ft. Private peninsula with 310 feet of shoreline, waterfront pool, large pier and eight feet of MLW (mean low water). Docking for multiple large boats. Completely updated and move-in ready. Double-height entrance foyer, nine-foot ceilings, two glass fireplaces. Open plan main floor with living room, family room, large gourmet eat-in kitchen. Main floor master suite with dressing area, marble bath and glass shower. Third floor “lighthouse room” with beacon. All with water views. Zoned heat and central air, driveway for three cars, one-acre property: $2,995,000 

Open House: Sunday, April 7, 2-4 p.m.

What: A nice house in a spectacular setting, surrounded on three sides by water and facing south. The interior has many of the touches you would expect in a luxury home of this era — a theater room, lots of marble, interior columns — as well as a “personal pool,” which seems to mean a small pool. A fun touch is the third floor tower room, designed to look like a lighthouse. Inside is a blinking beacon that you can turn on to guide you home across the water at night.  Listed for sale in 2017 at close to $4M, several price chops have recently made this house more interesting. If you’re looking for a reason to be in Annapolis this weekend, go have a look.

Where: The house fronts onto Fishing Creek, just south of Annapolis, in a community called Arundel On The Bay. It’s five miles to downtown Annapolis from here, or about a 15-minute drive. Across the water is Kent Island. Fishing Creek has some historical significance, as well as some ecological importance as a nursery for nearly every kind of fish that lives in the Chesapeake Bay.

Why: Water views, boating access.

Why Not: Federal flood plain. Rising seas.

Would Suit: Climate change deniers, optimists.

NB: In the 1940s Arundel by the Bay became a choice summer resort community for wealthy African-Americans, mostly from Washington, D.C. After the 1970s, the population shifted, and today the community is home to both black and white residents.

Hot House: 112 Ridgewood Road, Baltimore, MD 21210

Shingle-style colonial, circa 1907, recently renovated. Three stories with slate roof, multiple back porches, large finished basement/rec with bedroom and full bath. Five bedrooms, five baths over 4,387 sq. ft. Grand entrance hall, living room with gas fireplace, French doors to sun porch. Dining room with breakfast nook opens to  gourmet kitchen. Second floor has master suite with marble bath, walk in closet, office, laundry room, second bedroom with full bath. Central air. Landscaped .55 acre level lot with basketball court and 2-car detached garage: $1,195,000.

What: A stately, shingle style house — not quite a mansion by the standard of its neighbors, but a majestic presence from its south-facing back, with multiple porches and a long expanse of lawn. In summer the trees create a haven for birds. Winters feature dramatic sunsets over the ridge. A high-quality renovation a few years back retained lots of architectural detail–wide moldings and baseboards, arched entrance, oversize windows–all in mint condition. Inside, it’s warm and comfortable with lots of sun. Generous proportions and high ceilings keep the traditional layout feeling open and modern. The second floor master has a nice office, with doors opening onto, yes, a porch.

Where: Heading south on Roland Avenue, Ridgewood Road is just before Cold Spring Lane. It’s a tranquil one way street which runs west and ends at Oakdale Road. Some of Roland Park’s finest homes are here, including the former Stieff mansion “Chrogi” next door. It’s a nice walk along wide, tree-lined sidewalks over to St. David’s Church and Nursery School, Petit Louis and Johnny’s restaurants, and another half mile to Eddie’s Market, the shops of Roland Park, the public library and schools. Head the other way and you can walk to Miss Shirley’s, or down into Hampden.

Why: Way classier than a county McMansion.

Why Not: You’ll get some traffic noise from Cold Spring Lane

Would Suit: Summer porch parties, music drifting over the back yard, clinking glasses …

NB: There are lots of young families in the neighborhood, and this place feels like a kid magnet.

Hot House: 410 Fairmount Avenue, Towson MD 21286

Historic log cabin, circa 1868, with wood shingle siding, screened side porch, stone foundation and unfinished basement. Completely renovated in 2015, and moved from original location on Jefferson Street. Two bedrooms, one and a half baths over 1,352 sq. ft. Original wood floors. All new systems. Living room and dining room with original wood beam ceiling, log and post construction, fireplace, new kitchen, downstairs powder room. Upstairs sitting room, master bedroom and second bedroom, full bath. Central air. Large, sunny backyard with driveway: $325,000

What: One of the few remaining original homes in historic East Towson, a historically black community (see below). It stands proudly in its acre-ish lot, looking like the survivor it is, increasingly dwarfed by the high-rise apartment buildings and new construction that are Towson today. Inside, the split logs are a reminder that this house was likely built by hand, with rough beams in the ceiling and a single chimney up the middle. It may not have been built to last, but it has nevertheless stood the test of time.

Where: 410 Fairmount Avenue is a short walk to Towson University, Towson Town Center, the Towson Farmer’s Market, the Towson Cineplex and almost anything worth mentioning in downtown Towson. It was also part of Maryland’s earliest recorded African-American community, the East Towson African American Survey District, settled in the 1850s by former slaves.

According to this article in The Baltimore Sun, many of these slaves had been employed by Charles Ridgely, former Maryland governor and owner of the Hampton Mansion. Ridgely died in 1829, and a number of his slaves were freed. Some settled in East Towson, where they built their homes. The first African-American to buy here was Daniel Harris, who paid $187.50 in 1853 for a one-and-a-quarter-acre plot of land. Over time, this became a tightly knit community where generations of African-Americans lived within a largely white neighborhood.

Since the 1960s, development has taken a toll on East Towson. Many of the original homes were razed to make way for Towsontown Boulevard and the Towson Town Center. What remains are just a handful of wood frame homes like this one, small in size but laden with charm, resisting the onslaught of the 21st century.

Why: Character, interesting history, good location.

Why Not: Low ceilings on second floor.

Would Suit: Free spirit, proud individualist, historian… not too tall.

NB: Realtor can provide historic photos and documents pertaining to the property.

Brick townhouse, circa 1891, detached. Two bedrooms, two full and two half baths over 2,322 sq. ft., no basement. Ten-foot ceilings, original and new hardwood floors throughout, radiant flooring. Living room, powder room, laundry room and garage on the main level. Upstairs has open plan, loft-like kitchen/dining area and addition with ensuite bedroom. Third level has large master suite and original architectural detailing. Large roof deck with city views. Central air. Two-car garage plus one-car parking pad on alley: $399,900

What: In 1891, Baltimore entrepreneur Bernard Link built the Excelsior Cigar Factory and advertised his product in The Baltimore Sun as “The Leading 5 Cent Cigar In The World.”  He further offered “A $1000 Reward to Anyone Who Can Prove I Am Not Using Genuine Havana Tobacco as Filler.”  Possibly he couldn’t live up to his promise, for no further records of the company are found after 1910. Nevertheless, he was doing well enough in 1891 to erect an impressive factory building in prosperous Butcher’s Hill, with his company’s name emblazoned at the top.

Now, 101 S. Washington is a warm and inviting single family home that’s been nicely, if not expensively, renovated. It has the potential to be a real showplace. Long windows on three sides let in tons of light. A 2000 addition includes a bridge on the second floor to a huge bedroom with walk-in closets and a full private bath. Both the second and third levels have the original cigar factory floor cutouts, where tobacco was hauled up to the roof to dry. The old pulley is a feature in the third-floor master bathroom. There’s lots of character here, in a sunny and spacious city house.

Where: 101 S. Washington Street is near the corner of E. Lombard Street in Butcher’s Hill, a historic, mostly residential neighborhood a few blocks west of Patterson Park. The hilly local terrain creates nice vistas and adds interest to the blocks of row houses which are larger and more substantial than those in Fells Point and Canton to the south. It’s less than a mile to Fells Point, and 2.5 miles to the Johns Hopkins Bayview campus. There’s a Hopkins-run shuttle bus to Bayview that runs through the neighborhood. People with children often use local charter schools–Hampstead Hill Academy, Wolfe Street Academy, and The Green School — as well as local elementary Commodore John Rogers School on nearby Chester Street.

Why: Patterson Park, cigar factory cachet, parking.

Why Not: The alley leading to the garage is narrow. You’ll probably end up parking on the pad.

Would Suit: Bayview commuters, YoPros, urban family.

NB: This house would work well for a roommate situation. Both the second and third floors are spacious and private with their own full baths. 

Former Baltimore City firehouse, circa 1906, decommissioned in 2001 and zoned for residential use.  Two-story brick building, with basement. 3,780 sq. ft. unfinished space, with one full bath, two possible bedrooms. Fifteen foot+ ceilings on lower level, 13’ ceilings on second level, basement with eight-foot ceilings. Steam heat. Property being sold “as is”: $499,900

What: Is there anyone who doesn’t think it would be cool to live in a firehouse? Baltimore artist and actor Devon Davison did when he bought Hook & Ladder 13 from Baltimore City in 2002, as it was being decommissioned. For 15 years he used the first floor as his studio and had plans for a neighborhood art space for kids. He died last year, and this great looking firehouse is on the market. Zoned residential, it could easily be converted to commercial use or turned into a multi-unit home. Of course, there’s nothing like a firehouse for a film location. Or, what about something like this?

Where: 43 S. Carey Street is in Southwest Baltimore, in Hollins Market, just north of Pigtown/Washington Village. It’s an area that has been eyed by developers for years because of its easy access to I-95, the stadiums, Horseshoe Casino, B&O Railroad Museum and more. Now, with University of Maryland’s ever-expanding BioPark, the Hollins Market redevelopment by Scott Plank’s War Horse Cities (currently in negotiation), and the 32-acre, mixed-use Center/West development at MLK and Lafayette Street recently completed – it looks like a good time to buy a neighborhood firehouse.

Why: Because… 1. You’re a real estate investor or 2. You’re eight years old at heart.

Why Not: The neighborhood is coming, but not quite there for some buyers.

Would Suit: Early adapters.

NB: In 2002, Baltimore City sold this property to Devon Davison for $19K. In 2018, his estate sold it to the current owner for $110K. Now, it’s on the market for $499,900, so there’s probably some negotiating room.

Penthouse duplex apartment at the Warrington Condominium, circa 1927. Two bedrooms, 2.5 baths over 3,742 square feet, plus 500-square-foot terrace. 11- and 12-foot ceilings. Main floor: foyer, large living room with fireplace, dining room, butler’s pantry, library, powder room, Kitchen with oak floors, Traulsen fridge and private service elevator. Upstairs: ensuite master, dressing room w/custom walnut cabinetry and closet, spa-type marble slab bathroom, ensuite guest bedroom, laundry.  Central AC, one parking space: $2,885,800 (ask about HOA fee)

What: The Warrington is not the most expensive condo building in Baltimore, but for deep luxury and a certain kind of old world style, it is unique. Decorator Alexander Baer bought the penthouse (one of three in the building) 18 years ago as he was leaving a Guilford mansion. He completely gutted its interior, keeping the original plaster mouldings, the elegant curved staircase and an original bedroom door. Limestone floors were installed in the foyer, custom cherry parquet in the living and dining rooms, masterful lighting throughout.

He closed in part of the terrace to get the flow that the apartment lacked, and created the ideal space for someone who entertains frequently and lavishly. It has the style and scale of a grand Paris apartment, with each room leading gracefully into the next. Now, Baer says, “the time has come to pass it on to someone who will start all over again.”

Buyers should know that the real secret to the Warrington “is our staff,” says Baer. “We treat them generously and are rewarded with amazing service.” For instance? “You pull your car up to the front door, get out, and the car disappears–like magic.”

Where: Located on Charles Street, just north of University Parkway, this is a prime location for buyers who prefers the quiet neighborhoods of North Baltimore, such as Guilford, Homeland and Roland Park, to the faster pace of life downtown. While the Warrington has always had its share of high-profile residents, Baer emphasizes that it also has “a younger and more diverse group than you might think. We just got a young couple with their first baby.” So, luxury for all…

From the terrace, Guilford looks like a train garden, the church steeple is lit at night and the dome of Notre Dame is visible through the trees.

Would Suit: Exiled royalty, uptown girls (and guys)

Why: Red alligator doors in the lobby elevator.

Why Not: No indoor basketball court.

 NB: No tipping.

Mooreland Farm, circa 1876. 31.2-acre farm and an equine center. Turnkey operation with three barns (18 stalls total) and state-of-the-art, custom-designed indoor riding arena. Original farmhouse currently being restored. Renovated tractor shed has an office and rural chic living quarters. Multiple wash stalls, tack rooms. Outdoor riding ring and access to extensive network of riding trails through wooded property: $1,199,800

What: Goodbye, city life. On the market for just six days now, Mooreland Farm is a serious, compact and even stylish equestrian operation focused on hunting, jumping and fox hunting. For a buyer who is not in the market for, say, Sagamore Farms, but wants the whole package in terms of a riding, boarding and training facility, it offers a lot for the just-over-a-million price tag. The tractor shed has an office and living space that would be a cool feature in Dwell, the hip shelter magazine. But it is a hard-working place, and it should go to a buyer who will continue the equestrian model–a luxury lifestyle, but one that is not about having the right boots.

Where: Mooreland Farm is out I-795W, past Glyndon on the edge of Greenspring Valley hunt country. It’s a roughly 40-minute drive into the city, but just about 10 minutes east to the Hunt Valley Towne Centre, and located in the Baltimore County public school district.

Would Suit: Serious, morning-till-night horse fanciers, for whom this is both a business and a dream lifestyle.

Why: Unusually modern and well-maintained facility, beautiful setting in Maryland horse country.

Why Not: Everything horse-related is pitch perfect, but if you plan to live here, you will have to spend some time and money on the house.

NB: All the usual questions about drainage, slope, grass quality, water…

Former garage, circa 1920, complete renovation, 2011. Original brick construction with recent rubber roof, interior courtyard and two decks. Four bedrooms, four full, two half baths over 3,610 sq. ft. and two levels. Twelve-foot ceilings, Brazilian cherry floors, custom lighting. Double-paned, energy efficient, wood frame windows. Open plan kitchen and living area plus bedroom/office on main level. Central bluestone courtyard with water feature. Large gourmet kitchen with Sub Zero fridge, Wolf range, four-seat granite counter. Second level family room with gas fireplace, custom wet bar, deck off family room. Four en-suite bedrooms, master with 11′ ceilings, custom cabinetry and moldings, spa bath with double vanities, oversized shower. 23′ x 24′ roof deck with wet bar and all-weather pool table. Two-car garage. Zoned heat and central air: $1,000,000 (ask about CHAP tax credit)

What: A million dollars might seem a little steep for a former carriage repair/auto body shop in this unpretentious south Baltimore neighborhood — but step inside. Profiled in the Baltimore Sun back in 2013 when it was sold, this was a high-end flip by the two Knoepfle brothers, Matt and Mike, owners of the construction company Building Character LLC. An unusual amount of creativity went into this project, particularly the notion of an interior courtyard, which floods the house with light despite the small exterior windows. It’s slick enough for urban professionals and comfortable enough for family life, with high-end finishes and nice surprises (paneled walls, wide wooden blinds, custom closets) throughout. In the courtyard, there’s a steel and glass table made from a gear that the Knoepfle’s found in the old garage — a nice touch.  Note: the CHAP historic tax credit is significant, offering an $18,000 per year property tax reduction through 2024.

Where: Birckhead Street is at the south end of Federal Hill, although not in the officially designated neighborhood of Federal Hill South, which lies just below Fort Avenue. This house is north of Fort Avenue, between Light Street and South Charles — close, but not too close, to all the Federal Hill action. Riverside Park is a short walk south and west, the Cross Street Market is a short walk north.

Why:   Unique property and the ’37 Birckhead Street’ painted sign is genius.

Why Not: All-weather pool table hard to believe…

Would Suit: Washington commuters, UA exec.

NB: This house was bought for $275K in July 2012 and sold for $915K in June 2013.

This Hot House is sponsored by Roofing Contractor in Baltimore, Four Twelve Roofing. 

[sponsored_by action_blurb=”Sponsored By” name=”Four Twelve Roofing” url=”https://www.fourtwelvedev.com/” logo=”https://baltimorefishbowl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/fourtwelveroofing-logo.png” byline=”Four Twelve Roofing – Baltimore’s Local Expert in Flat Roofing and Asphalt Shingles. Located in Baltimore City, and founded by two young and passionate entrepreneurs, Four Twelve is trying to make roofing easier. Better Service, Better Software, Better People. 5-Star Rated on Facebook, Google and HomeAdvisor.” attribution_action_blurb=”Created By” attribution_name=”Roofing Contractor in Baltimore” attribution_url=””][/sponsored_by]

French country-style house in stone and stucco, circa 2000, with extensive wine cellar and heated swimming pool. Seven bedrooms, five full and two half-baths over two stories and 6,685 square feet. Full, finished lower level with indoor sports court and theater. Entrance hall, open living area with fireplace and multiple French doors to pool. Timber ceilings and lintels. Vintage barn wood floors. Large kitchen with raised-hearth wood-burning fireplace, Traulsen fridge. Distinctive mantels from France. Dining room and main-floor bedroom, also with French doors to pool. Guest suite with kitchen above three-car garage. Central air. Two-acre property with mature plantings and professional landscaping: $2,499,000

What: The luxurious house would be at home in South Hampton, Mill Valley or River Oaks, where it would be triple the price. The French country architecture is formal when viewed from the front, and more welcoming at the back, where it is all about outdoor entertaining, gardens and the beautiful freeform swimming pool–California-by-way-of-Dorgogne.

Inside, timber beams are strategically deployed in the ceilings, framing windows and topping lintels, where they lend definition and character to all of the open space. Similarly, the wooden floors, of varied woods and widths, create a natural California vibe, leading you through the French doors and on to the porches and patios that ring the organic shape of the pool. There is a main-floor bedroom with doors leading out to the pool, which is completely private and enclosed by tall hedges. The master bedroom, also, is a stunner.

Where: Walnut Hill Lane is a long, winding road that ends in a cul-de-sac. It starts just off Bellona Avenue in Ruxton near the intersection at Joppa Road. This house is down at the end of the lane, about a mile from Graul’s Market, 10 minutes from Towson Town Center and 30 minutes to downtown.

Why: Love the French/California thing.

Why Not: Suspicious of anything French.

Would Suit: Buyer who’s California Dreamin’. David Hockney.

NB: The first freeform pools were built in California, which dominated residential pool design in the 20th century. One of the first was built for Pickfair, the Los Angeles estate of Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford.

This Hot House is sponsored by Roofing Contractor in Baltimore, Four Twelve Roofing. 

[sponsored_by action_blurb=”Sponsored By” name=”Four Twelve Roofing” url=”https://www.fourtwelvedev.com/” logo=”https://baltimorefishbowl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/fourtwelveroofing-logo.png” byline=”Four Twelve Roofing – Baltimore’s Local Expert in Flat Roofing and Asphalt Shingles. Located in Baltimore City, and founded by two young and passionate entrepreneurs, Four Twelve is trying to make roofing easier. Better Service, Better Software, Better People. 5-Star Rated on Facebook, Google and HomeAdvisor.” attribution_action_blurb=”Created By” attribution_name=”Roofing Contractor in Baltimore” attribution_url=””][/sponsored_by]

Arts and Crafts-style house, custom built for owner, circa 2006, with covered porch, wraparound deck and screened porch. Hardiplank and cedar shingles and roof. Hardwood floors throughout. Five upstairs bedrooms, 4.5 baths over two stories and 5,600 square feet. Entry hall, open-plan main level with living room, library, kitchen with granite island, butler’s pantry, family room with Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired fireplace. Master suite with glass shower and freestanding tub, closet room, balcony. Nine-foot beamed ceilings. Full, finished basement with workshop. Zoned heat and central air, two-car attached garage, 5.86 acres: $1,000,000 (reduced from $1,295,000)

What: The owner of this house is a cabinet maker, which comes as no surprise. There are crown moldings, beamed and timber ceilings, finely worked built-ins–its gorgeous millwork is a paean to the disappearing art of wood craftsmanship. Who else would attach tiny brass frames on every kitchen drawer, so you can conveniently label the contents? Now you will know where everything is, because you will have drawers marked “Old Power Cords”, “Dried Out Magic Markers”, “String”. At last, a clearly labeled “Man Drawer“…

As the broker copy claims, the house really is a kind of “MODERN MASTERPIECE” in the genre with its sharp roof lines, clerestory dormers and cool paint job. It sits cozily on its wooded lot, fitting seamlessly into the picture, at one with its surroundings. Built to a very high standard, its luxury comes from the high quality of materials and craftsmanship. From the insulation of the windows to the water heater, attributes of this home are 150 percent better than they need to be. The house deserves a buyer who appreciates that.

Where: Longnecker Road winds gently through the Worthington Valley, and feels for most of its length like a private drive. This is horse country, and it’s scenic driving out here, with miles of green fields and freshly painted board fencing. This property is heavily wooded and would not require much maintenance, barely a lawn mower. It’s about 20 minutes from the Hunt Valley Towne Center, and about the same to the Reisterstown Road shopping corridor. Franklin school district.

Why: Love the whole Arts and Crafts thing.

Why Not: Just too much wood.

Would Suit: Organized architecture buffs, nature lovers, collectors.

NB: An additional one-acre lot is available for a potential in-law residence. Grandma’s house could be, if not “over the river,” at least “through the woods”…

Fieldstone farmhouse, circa 1836, with frame addition, circa 1905, completely restored. Four/five bedrooms, 2.5 baths over two and a half stories and 3,585 square feet. Entry foyer, living room, dining room, open-plan eat-in kitchen and family room, master suite with double walk-in closets, glass shower and den/dressing room. Three further bedrooms, office, three fireplaces, hardwood floors throughout. Central AC, attic, unfinished basement. Large wooded barn with hayloft, converted to four-car garage and workroom. Landscaped 1.9-acre lot: $749,900

What: Nothing says forever like a stone farmhouse. Listed in the Maryland Historical Trust, this house has been restored and modernized by someone who cared, and it looks ready for the next century. In the 1905 frame addition, the interiors are open and casual, the exterior covered tastefully with Hardiplank siding. The original house is more formal, with smaller rooms, beautifully proportioned and elegant. The two sides work well together. The owner is one of the founders of the popular gift shop 5 Wacky Women, and while there is nothing remotely wacky about the house, it’s been decorated in a breezy style that’s refreshing in a 200-year-old home.

Where: Pot Spring Road runs about nine miles from Goucher College to the edge of the Loch Raven Reservoir. This house is close to the reservoir, and about a mile and a half from Dulaney Valley High School. It feels rural out here, but it’s just 10 minutes to Hunt Valley Towne Centre, and even less time to the York Road corridor. Confederate major Harry Gilmor would have marched his men past this house during the Civil War.

Why: Barn.

Why Not: Currently there is no doorway or hall to connect the second-floor master bedroom (in the addition) to the other second floor bedrooms (in the original house). But it could be “easily done,” says the realtor.

Would Suit: History buffs, buyer looking for permanence.

NB: An additional, one-acre lot next door is also for sale.