100 Bellemore Road, The Orchards, Baltimore.

Hot House: Norman Revival House with Loads of Great Details. 3 Beds/4 Baths. 2,998 square feet. Asking price: $699,000.

What: Located on the west side of Bellmore Road, this Norman Revival house has some of the hallmarks of the French Norman countryside, including the steeply pitched rooflines, iron-strapped door, arched doorways and more. The Norman style is not common, although there are a few good examples on Springlake Way in Homeland.

Although this house looks simple on the exterior, you will see that it abounds with myriad details that make it special. As you enter, the first thing you notice is a graceful spiral staircase with wrought iron railings with a long window lighting the way. This is a similar feature to several of Palmer & Lamdin’s houses, which I suspect this might be. Arched doorways lead off the hallway to a large living room, dining room, kitchen and small bathroom.

The living room features a curved window wall, a large fireplace with a mirror above it to bounce light from the curved window wall back into the room, plus a built-in bookcase and cabinet and matching corner cabinets adjacent to the bow window. The windows look like they may have originally been casements, but now they are two-over-two windows, an unusual combination.

The large dining room has French doors which lead to the back yard and an alcove for a sideboard. The newly-remodeled kitchen has custom cherry cabinets and granite counters, some of which incorporate a breakfast bar. There is a significant amount of storage, including a long run of cabinets which make up the pantry. There is a powder room off the kitchen and front hall with custom cabinetry.

The second floor features a large primary bedroom with the full bow window wall, an ensuite bath with a step-in shower, and a walk-in closet with a built-in vanity. The other two bedrooms share a Jack and Jill bathroom (access from both rooms).

The very spacious wood-paneled family room on the lower level has a woodburning fireplace. There is space for an additional bedroom or office, with an adjoining full bath, and a large utility room with utility sinks.

The grounds of this charming house included a stone patio with a koi pond and fountain, plus mature plantings that enhance its privacy. A two-car garage in the Norman manner with a cupola topping the roof is situated on a driveway that can accommodate additional cars. The property also included an additional half lot with access via a stone stairway.

Where: The Orchards is a quiet neighborhood nestled between Northern Parkway, Lake Avenue, Roland Avenue and Charles Street. The houses range from large stone houses to Cape Cods situated along winding roads. The campus of the Bryn Mawr school is located in The Orchards and it’s a quick walk to Gilman, the Roland Park schools, and Boys’ Latin.

Final Appraisal: The house was built in 1939, and it retains many of its original charming features. It’s in a great location in a neighborhood that prizes its community feeling. The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

When people in Baltimore talk about ghosts, they usually think of places like Green Mount Cemetery, or the Admiral Fell Inn in Fells Point. But one of Baltimore’s most apparently active ghosts resides in the century-old building of the Maryland State Medical Society, also known as MedChi.

MedChi is celebrating its 225^th anniversary, being founded in 1799. As you might imagine, the building is filled with uncountable old things. From books dating back to 1567, portraits painted in the late 1700s, creepy medical instruments, and of course, the resident ghost, the building is a look at medicine through time.

Marcia Crocker Noyes was the librarian at MedChi from 1896 until her death in 1946. She was required to live in the building (in a penthouse, no less!), because she needed to be available to the doctors at all hours. The original Google, you might say.

Although Marcia is buried at Green Mount Cemetery, she’s still active throughout MedChi’s 1909 building in Mt. Vernon. She moves things, finds old paintings, and walks through the hallways, still looking after the building she helped to design.

MedChi invites guests to come tour the building and hear about MedChi’s history, Marcia’s incredible life, and the ghost stories that have continued ever since her death. Guests will also have a chance to visit the MedChi Museum of Maryland Medical History and see some of the collection’s creepiest books.

Tours will be held on Monday, Oct. 28; Wednesday, Oct. 30; and Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and are available HERE. Funds raised will support the MedChi Archives. After you pay for your tickets, visitors are asked to indicate which date you’d like to attend. If you select Halloween, MedChi encourages you to dress up!

Last year, tickets sold out in a few hours, so if you’re interested, act fast!

11814 Park Heights Ave, Owings Mills.

Hot House: Three Ponds Estate in Caves Valley. 5 Beds/7 Baths. 11,400 square feet. 14 acres. Asking price: $3 million.

What: After a good stone house, a Georgian is one of my favorite styles. Three Ponds is a gorgeous Georgian-style house perched on a hill in the verdant Caves Valley. Built in 1925, Three Ponds have been completely renovated to the owner’s exacting standards.

The front of the house departs from a traditional Georgian, with the addition of a stone patio, overlooking the vast terraced lawn. As you enter the house through the double front doors, you come into a wide center hall, replete with numerous styles of millwork and trim, all in a classic glossy white.

Off to one side is the beautifully appointed living room with a large fireplace, numerous built-in bookshelves, and French doors leading to a sunroom. Across the hall is a smaller cozy family room with a built-in wet bar, perfect for socializing with family and friends.

A brand-new kitchen, features two quartz-topped islands, a Wolf six-burner range with a griddle, a grille and two ovens, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and an ice-maker, two dishwashers, and French doors which lead to another terrace, overlooking the valley beyond.

Other rooms on the main level include such amenities as a wine refrigerator, a wet bar, ice makers, laundry rooms, a covered porch, and several additional fireplaces.

The second and third floors contain another laundry room, plus four bedrooms and three full baths. The primary suite includes a dressing room, a private deck and a bath with heated floors, a double vanity, a steam shower with dual shower heads, and a spa tub. The third floor’s space has a variety of uses: yoga room, playroom, art studio or just additional bedrooms.

In addition to the main house, there is a smaller house on the property which overlooks one of the three ponds. It has a full kitchen, three beds and three baths, laundry, and a wrap-around porch.

The property also contains a raised vegetable garden, a fenced dog run/pasture, a Zen garden and, of course, three ponds.

Where: Three Ponds is located on Park Heights Avenue, just across from the Caves Valley Golf Club. It is a quick drive to Reisterstown Road, and all of the restaurants, stores and amenities which that offers.

Final Appraisal: This house is a perfect country escape for someone who wants the vista of wide, open spaces. The views from the house are expansive and would provide a soothing end to a busy day. The smaller house would be perfect for a house/property manager. The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

7 Midvale Road, Roland Park.

Hot House: Tudor-Style House in Roland Park. 6 Beds/6 Baths. 5,549 square feet. Asking price: $1.595 million.

What: Midvale Road in Roland Park is one of the many circles on the west side of Roland Avenue. The original Olmsted design had every other road or lane as a through road down to Falls Road, and in between, “dead end streets” with eight to twelve houses. Midvale sits between Longwood Road and Indian Lane, where the houses on the south side drop down to.

Number Seven Midvale is a very stoic Tudor-style house which sits on the south side of Midvale. The Tudor woodwork on the façade has been painted and updates the look of the exterior. Fortunately, much of the interior detailing has been left intact. The front door, side lights and transom are all lightly frosted leaded glass, giving you privacy, but also light. Entering, you come into a large, grand hall, with the major rooms on either side.

On one side is the living room, with beautiful millwork details, and a gorgeous fireplace. This room leads to a cozy, less formal family room, and then into the kitchen, which is in an addition that spans most of the back of the house. The kitchen features Monogram appliances, white subway tiles, a kitchen island with “leathered black granite” and a heated floor. It leads to a Trex deck for lounging and entertaining.   

On the other side is a formal dining room, again with elegant trim, leaded glass windows, a chandelier, and a fireplace. Adjacent to the dining room, oddly, is the laundry room and a mudroom with access to the outside, and then a sunroom leading to the deck.

The second floor features the primary suite with a fireplace, loads of light, an en suite bath with heated marble Calacutta marble floors, and a double vanity. The next-largest bedroom includes a double closet and a built-in desk. The third bedroom has its own full bath, and there is an additional full bath in the main hall, adjacent to the second bedroom.

The third floor contains three additional large bedrooms, with large closets, skylights and a mini-split HVAC system for comfort. Any of these rooms could be used for a home office.

The lower level includes a large playroom, additional laundry room and another full bath, with heated floors.

The entire house has been recently renovated and upgraded.

Much of the back of the property is on a wooded hill, with a stream at the bottom, leading to Indian Lane. The back, closest to the house has been made into a stone-paved play area. The slightly sloped front yard included a driveway that holds three cars, plus on-street parking.

Where: As mentioned above, Midvale is one of the cul de sac streets on the west side of Roland Avenue. It is close to the schools along Roland Avenue and up to Lake Avenue, Eddie’s and the banks on Roland, and the Roland Park branch of the Pratt Library.  

Final Appraisal: Because Midvale is a dead-end street, there is no through traffic, so the street is very quiet. The Tudor style of the house, which dates from 1913, is one of several of that style. As mentioned, it’s newly renovated, so there’s scant work to be done. The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

700 Washington Place, Mount Vernon, Baltimore.

Hot House: Stunning Apartment in the Center of the City at Baltimore’s Best Address. 3 Beds/3 Baths. 2,307 square feet. Asking price: $695,000.

What: It is undeniable that Mount Vernon Place is the most beautiful, and European area of Baltimore, and it’s anchored by the spectacular Beaux Arts Washington Place Apartments on the north-west corner. The beauty of this building is indicative of the over-the-top, turn-of-the-century architecture that was popular in the most elegant address in Baltimore.

You enter the Washington Place Apartments through a gracious foyer, with marble walls and columns, and elegance everywhere you look. You take an old-fashioned elevator to the fourth floor where the apartment is located and enter the apartment through a foyer, leading to the sitting, dining, and living rooms.

The living room, with its bay window and oak floors with mahogany inlay, overlooks the beautiful “green” church across the park, and south towards the Washington Monument, where you will have a front-row seat for the annual Monument Lighting in December. The room’s high ceilings, marble fireplace and detailed mill-work, give it and the adjacent room an air of fin de siècle sophistication. The chandelier in the living room conveys with the apartment.

The dining room has a built-in china closet, detailed millwork, inlaid oak and mahogany floors, a lovely alabaster chandelier and sidelights, which convey with the apartment, and a stained-glass connecting door.

The master bedroom has as series of three French doors with ornate wrought iron Juliet balconies which overlook the Washington Place park. Additionally, it has an en-suite full bath, and two large closets, high ceilings and ceiling fans. Some of the original tile and other details remain in the bathroom. The other two bedrooms share a bathroom, with original tile details, and a large porcelain bathtub.

Where: Mount Vernon, one of Baltimore’s most architecturally beautiful neighborhoods, is in the center of the city. It is anchored by the Washington Monument and its four adjacent parks which convey a European vibe. There are numerous galleries, shops, cultural resources, and restaurants within walking distance. Penn Station is a half-dozen blocks north along Charles Street, and the Inner Harbor is a half-dozen blocks in the other direction.

Final Appraisal: Apartments in Washington Place do not come on the market very often, as residents tend to stay put! Washington Place is a co-op building, so financing for it is different from a conventional loan. From the listing: “The monthly fee INCLUDES property TAXES, HEAT, 24-hour security, doorman, elevator, six-day a week trash/recycling pickup at your kitchen door, water and sewer, property maintenance and building insurance. The owner pays only for electricity, internet, and phone.” The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

829 Park Avenue, Mount Vernon, Baltimore.

Hot House:  It’s Got Style, It’s Got Grace, It’s Got a Lot of Pink! 7 Beds/5 Baths 9,971 square feet. Asking price: $3.495 million.

What: Are you an old soul who craves life in a historic house, but still wants to modern conveniences of air conditioning, on-site parking and a new kitchen? This gorgeous house on Park Avenue in Mount Vernon might be the place for you! It’s absolutely amazing, with the best of the old-world architecture and the new of updated paint schemes and many amenities.

The understated exterior belies the extravagant interior of the house. Entering through a set of double doors, you come into a space where the oversized trim and millwork, and herringbone and parquet floors show off the talent of the original craftsmen. The house has eleven original fireplaces, much of the original mahogany woodwork, stained glass windows and acres of plasterwork.

The living room is a symphony of pink – paint, drapery and accents. It also features a spectacular chandelier. Across the main hall is a “small” space for a cozy home office. The dining room is the showcase of elaborate mahogany woodwork and trim, with space for a dinner party to rival the last supper! The modern kitchen, with Thermidor appliances leads to a cozy eating area. But the most amazing room is the conservatory with beautiful Italian marble columns, a stained-glass skylight and room for a huge party. This space leads to an elegant deck off the rear of the house, shaded by an ancient magnolia.

The second floor features most of the seven bedrooms. The primary suite has an en suite bath with Kohler fixtures, a soaking tub, dual vanities, and a shower enclosure, plus a sitting room which could be used as an additional bedroom, and a walk-in closet. Another bedroom and full bath, and a laundry room complete the second floor.

The third floor has four bedrooms and one bathroom. Each of the bedrooms has a fireplace. The top floor, formerly the servants’ quarters has loads of storage space or an alternative use. Lest you worry about getting up all of those stairs, you can take advantage of the four-stop elevator!

The property offers private gated parking for five cars, a courtyard, and garage access from the full basement.

Where: Park Avenue is one of the main streets in Mount Vernon. Leading north from downtown, up along the west side of Mount Vernon, Park Avenue is home to some of the most beautiful townhouses in Baltimore. It’s just a five-minute walk to the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, the Maryland Center for History & Culture, the Walters Art Museum, Peabody Hall and Library, the shops and bars along Read Street; and everything on Charles Street.

Final Appraisal: This house, also known as the Knabe House, sold in 2021 (see Hot House here) but has now been completely redone and updated. The Knabe family were makers of the finest pianos and the interiors of the house befit a family of that stature. The listing for the house is here.

4304 St. Paul Street, Guilford, Baltimore.

Hot House: Classical Beaux Arts Home, Elegant Details Abound. 7 Beds/6 Baths. 8,523 Square Feet. Asking price: $2.45 million.

What: Ellicott & Emmart were leading architects in Baltimore in the early 1900’s, designing some well-known buildings, including St. David’s Church and the Roland Park Women’s Club on Roland Avenue, and my offices at MedChi on Cathedral Street! This house is similar to other buildings they designed, with the same level of exquisite detail, including hardwood floors, classical columns, detailed doors, amazing molding, Wedgewood, sconces, bookcases and more.

This house is located on one of the most beautiful blocks in Baltimore, St. Paul Street between Charles Street and Cold Spring Lane. The house has been thoughtfully restored after it was damaged during the 2012 derecho. All of the finishes are of the highest quality and all of the original millwork and trim were retained and restored. In addition, there are six fireplaces in the house. The house is filled with arched and French windows, which add to the elegance.

The interior spaces are mostly as originally designed, except a few, including the kitchen which was expanded and updated with all new Wolf appliances, the bathrooms, and the three separate HVAC systems. Additionally, an elevator was added for the convenience of the new owners. The exterior was also updated with new copper gutters, repaired slate roof, a detailed paint job, and the extension and expansion of the terraces off the main rooms.

The primary suite had a marble-clad ensuite bath added as well as a walk-in closet to further elevate the space. There are several additional bedrooms and marble baths on the second and third floors. The basement has also been expanded with numerous storage spaces and even a secret entrance! The house also boasts six parking spaces, including two in the garage and four others.

Where: This house is in the heart of Guilford, on St. Paul Street as it winds through the neighborhood. It is on a large, shaded lot, and is convenient to both downtown, the JFX and Towson. It’s close to several universities, museums and churches.

Final Appraisal: After suffering from neglect for several years after the derecho due to insurance battles, this wonderful house has finally been restored to its original glory, with the added benefit of being completely updated for twenty-first century life. It is one of the most elegant houses in Baltimore and would be a showplace for some lucky new owner. The listing for the house is here and it goes on the market August 14, 2024.

All photographs from the listing.

4622 Keswick Road, Baltimore.

Hot House: Historic Church in Evergreen in a Shaded Oasis. 3 Beds/2 Baths. 3,241 Square Feet. Asking price: $1,050,000

What: Even though the Catholic Church in Baltimore is shedding a significant number of their churches, most people are looking for something slightly smaller and cozier than a stone edifice that seats a thousand congregants!

And now we’ve got the perfect church for you… it’s an 1894-built, shingle-style chapel, featuring many of the original details, but updated for today’s living.

As you arrive up the double staircases, you come into a huge bright open space, with a 20-foot ceiling and illuminated by beautiful plain- and stained-glass windows, and a skylight.

You will find a wonderfully updated kitchen, perfect for any would-be gourmet chef, in a corner of the open plan space. The kitchen features custom cabinetry, granite countertops and high-end appliances.

Additionally, there are two bedrooms and a full bath on the main level, but which are private from the main space. The primary bedroom and en suite bath are located in the church’s loft and are completely private.

There is also a “bonus space” on the side of the house which could be used as an additional bedroom, office, playroom or storage. It has its own entrance.

The back yard of the church is suitable for entertaining or a garden, and there are two private parking spaces, accessible via the back alley from Cold Spring Lane.

Where: The church is located in the shaded and friendly Evergreen neighborhood, just north of Cold Spring Lane, east of Maynadier Lane, and backing up to Stony Run Park. It was where the early servants at the huge old houses in Roland Park lived in the late 1800s and first half of the 1900s.

The church is convenient to the restaurants along Cold Spring Lane and also on Roland Avenue. There are numerous schools, both public and private within a one-mile radius and nothing is too far away.

Final Appraisal: Because of their architecture, churches can be a difficult conversion, but this one manages to be cozy and celestial at the same time. The new owners would have to be comfortable with an open plan concept, as well as having the most interesting house on the street. The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

215 St. Dunstan’s Road, Homeland, Baltimore.

Hot House: Charming Normandy-style house in the middle of Homeland, overlooking the St. Dunstan’s Lakes. 4 beds/5 baths. 3,611 Square Feet. Asking price: $695,000.

What: The classic city neighborhood of Homeland is coming up to its 100^th Anniversary, and the architecture, old growth trees and unparalleled old-time atmosphere makes it one of the most desirable areas in Baltimore.

This charming house on St. Dunstan’s Road is set onto a corner lot, with a private driveway, free-standing two-car garage, and a view overlooking the smaller St. Dunstan’s Lakes. Although the listing says Tudor-style, I think it’s more of a Normandy-style house with a sharply-pitched roofline, and stucco cladding.

As you enter the house, you go up a few steps into the spacious, light-filled living room, with a beautiful stone and stucco, wood-burning fireplace and historic casement bow windows. The large dining room also has a bow window, with space for a small table and chairs in addition to the dining room table.

The kitchen, with high-end stainless-steel appliances, has a small breakfast nook for those busy school mornings. There is also a small sitting room with French doors leading to a flagstone patio and the level back yard.

The second floor has three bedrooms, including the primary suite and its en-suite bath. There are two additional bathrooms on the second floor, while the third floor, with another bedroom and another full bath, also has storage space for your out-of-season clothes and gear.

The lower level is finished and can be used for an exercise space, entertainment center, or a place where the kids can play during awful weather (like today!).

This property also features a free-standing two-car garage, with work space and storage space, and an automatic roll-up door. There is also a large parking pad for several cars, all accessed through the alley.

The final touch is a white picket fence which adds to the charm of the property. There are several large trees and some old-growth plantings, all of which overlook the St. Dunstan Lakes, the smallest ones.

Where: Homeland’s boundaries are basically between Charles Street and Bellona Avenue, Northern Parkway and Homeland Avenue. St. Dunstan’s Road sits right in the center of Homeland, both geographically and where the action is! Numerous events take place throughout the year around the Lakes. Homeland is very close to the action along York Road, including the Senator Theatre, Belvedere Square and Wells Liquors!

Final Appraisal: This house, with some of the hallmarks of the architects Palmer & Lamdin, is one of several Normandy-style homes along the Lakes, all designed by William Lamdin, who spent time studying the architecture of northern France. It is cozy and warm and it would be a delight to live there. The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

1421 Park Avenue, Bolton Hill, Baltimore.

Hot House: The House with the Dragon Staircase. Two-Car Garage, Elevator. 4 Beds/4 Baths. 4,050 Square Feet. Asking price: $950,000.

What: This is an old house with a distinctly modern twist – namely a custom-painted
dragon which winds its way up the main staircase. Add to that the Andy Warhol
wallpapers, the bright, primary colors and a custom-made stained-glass door, and
your inner and outer artist will be delighted.

This house is one of three nearly identical houses with two-story bay windows on tree-
lined Park Avenue, built for three local physicians (in my actual job of medical
historian, I couldn’t locate who they were, as the address numbers have changed
since the 1880s).

As you enter the house up a set of traditional marble steps, you come through a set of
double doors and are greeted by a funky Andy Warhol wallpaper lining the entry with
the set of custom stained-glass double doors. The layout of the house is shot-gun
style, with the long hall along one wall, and the main rooms on the other side.

The living room has a pair of marble fireplaces, which were used as a heat source in
the earliest days, as well as built-in bookcases. The sweeping grand staircase is
painted with the stunning dragon mural, which has become internet famous! The first
floor is rounded out with a large dining room with fireplace and French doors leading
to rear porch, and a powder room with the Warhol Queen Elizabeth II wallpaper.

The second floor is basically the primary bedroom and a double-size family room with
double fireplaces. The bedroom suite has a laundry space and large closets, plus an
old-fashioned soaking tub and a modern glass shower. The third floor has two
bedrooms, plus a full bath that has room for expansion.

The lower level of the house has a separate one-bedroom apartment which can either
connect with the house or be private. There is an elevator that services all four floors
of the house.

Where: Bolton Hill is well-known as an active and lively neighborhood with its own
Swim and Tennis club. There are fun events throughout the year, as well. It’s also
close to all of the restaurants and bars in Bolton Hill and the Penn North district, and
just a short walk to Penn Station and Light Rail to watch the Orioles and Ravens.

Final Appraisal: If you’re of an artistic mind, this would be a perfect house. It’s
quirky and fun, and not a cookie cutter! The modern art and colors work well with the
Victorian era of the house. The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

300 Kerneway, Baltimore.

Hot House: Stone House with Pool and Tennis/Pickleball Court, 1.64 Acre Lot. 6 Beds/6 Baths. 5,188 square feet. Asking price: $1.65 million.

What: Most people don’t even know Kerneway exists, and that’s the way the residents on the street want it. While both ends are off East Cold Spring Lane, it’s one-way and the entrance to the street is easy to miss.

As you enter the property from Kerneway, you will notice lovely landscaping with many perennial plantings. Go through the cheery yellow Dutch door into the house where you will find a bright layout including the living room with its multi-paneled bay window with a cozy window-seat. Both the living and dining rooms have wood-burning fireplaces.

Adjacent to the dining room is a butler’s pantry with a wet-bar, which then leads into the super functional kitchen, with restaurant-grade appliances fit for any professional chef. A comfortable den with another wood-burning fireplace is a perfect place to work from home, or curl up and read a great book. A large family room with a gas fireplace is where family and friends can gather for quiet conversations or a rowdy game night.

The Primary Suite features floor-to-ceiling windows and an adjacent primary bath. A large dressing room has a fireplace, making it an ideal space to get ready for a big event or wind down after a busy day at the office. There are five more bedrooms on the second floor, and three additional full bathrooms, including one with two showers!

The property, which is more than 1.5 acres, has many gathering areas, including a pool with a pool house, pickleball/tennis courts, space for a kitchen and flower garden, a large terrace with a hand-built stone pizza oven! There is also a two-car garage with a newly surfaced driveway.

Where: Kerneway is a one-way street off Cold Spring Lane, just east of Charles Street. It backs up to both Loyola and Notre Dame Universities but is completely private. It is a very quiet street despite its proximity to so much.

Final Appraisal: Although the house was built in 1910, the amenities are completely contemporary, and many are newly upgraded. The house has numerous spaces for getting together in a group, or spending time alone recharging. The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

3908 N. Charles Street, Unit 1303.

Hot House: A Classical Georgian House in the Sky! 2 Beds/3 Baths. 3,742 square feet. Asking price: $2.5 million.

What: The Warrington is Baltimore’s most beautiful and classic apartment building, and this apartment is at the very tip-top of that in terms of location, elegance, and uniqueness. When you look at the drone photos of it, the apartment looks like a classical Georgian mansion landed on the top of an elegant brick apartment building.

As the neighborhood of Guilford was being built, the architects, Wyatt & Nolting understood that any building they designed for the area would need to be equal to or exceed what was being in the design of the single homes. And at the Warrington, they fulfilled their mission.

As you enter, you will be delighted by the beautiful marble floor and the elegant winding staircase. As you move forward, you will see the gracious open-plan living and dining rooms, with their eleven-foot ceilings.

Moving into the study, there are three sets of French doors which lead out onto the apartment’s showpiece: the large patio, overlooking Guilford, Johns Hopkins and the rest of the city. It is an amazing panorama, both day and night.

The modern kitchen features the best in appliances – a Viking six-burner stove, a Thermador wine cooler with room for 55 bottles, and a Sub-Zero glass-front refrigerator which ensures that you will not leave any moldy leftovers in there.

The cozy library looks west over Tuscany-Canterbury and the spectacular sunsets we get year-round now.

As you move up to the second level, you will find two huge bedrooms, with en-suite bathrooms, and dressing rooms and extra large walk-in closets with ample room for all of your summer and winter clothes and shoes.

In addition to the stunning apartment, the Warrington also offers a 24-hour front desk for receiving all of your Amazon packages, a full-time, on-site manager, full-time maintenance staff, porters and valet parkers, plus a deeded parking space.

Where: The Warrington is on North Charles Street, just north of University Parkway and across the street from Guilford proper. It’s close to the Waverly Farmers’ Market, the shops and restaurants in Charles Village and to Johns Hopkins University and the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Final Appraisal: This apartment is one of the most unique listings in Baltimore. There is no other building that offers the elegance, the amenities, and the view that the Warrington has. The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

1808 Sulgrave Avenue, Mt. Washington.

Hot House: Unusual Octagonal Victorian Shingle House in Mt. Washington. 5 Beds/5 Baths. 2,619 SF. Asking price: $699,000.

What: Are you the type of person who wants to live in a house that is just as unique as you are? If so, this is absolutely the most perfect house! Built in 1884, this cedar-shingled octagonal house is literally one-of-a-kind! The most well-known of the numerous octagons in Mt. Washington is the Octagon House on the campus of Johns Hopkins on Smith Avenue. While the octagon house movement was only 20 years long, ending in about 1865, this house was built a little later and has numerous Victorian details.

This house is filled with light and loads of windows! Although the walls are a bit wonky, as expected, with the right furniture placement and a good eye for layout, the house can be a showplace.

The front door opens into the main room, which leads to the dining room, which leads to the kitchen, which leads to the main room! In the center, are closets and a powder room, as well as stairs leading to the basement. (Honestly, if any house came with a floor plan in the listing, this should have been it!)

The second floor was renovated in 2022. The renovation added a new bathroom with a heated floor to the primary bedroom, which takes up the entire back of the house. A laundry room and guest bathroom were also added. It’s really amazing how long it took to make 2^nd floor laundry rooms a thing! The third floor, with its peaked roofline is home to additional bedrooms and a possible office space. The basement has a lot of storage space, and can be finished. It walks out to the lower level of the property.

The driveway, which can be accessed from Kelly Avenue, leads to the rear of the house and has space for two or three cars, depending on the size. There are porches on either side of the house in true Victorian tradition, and a lovely covered front porch. Several of the windows have decorative awnings, and over-all, the house is quite charming.

Where: This octagonal house is a quick walk into Mt. Washington Village with all of its shops, restaurants and bars. It is across from the Mt. Washington Elementary School, which is perfect if you have young children. The Mt. Washington Arboretum is also just across Kelly Avenue.  

Final Appraisal: This quirky house won’t appeal to everyone, just the person who has a great sense of who they are and is confident in their taste. It is fun, funky and classic all at the same time. The location is great and it’s the direct opposite of a cookie-cutter house! The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

1003 St. George’s Road, Baltimore.

Hot House: A House in Three Parts – Mid-Century Modern on a Classic Road in Roland Park. 4 Beds/4 Baths. 5,876 square feet. Asking price: $1.9 million.

What: As you drive down Northern Parkway towards Falls Road, you might catch a glimpse of three adjacent roofs, and a lovely pond behind a stand of bamboo. This special house has not been on the market since 1996, and now’s your chance to own this singular beauty designed in the 1970s by architect Tom Gaudreau.

You enter the property through a rounded brick wall off the side road, where there is a garage and a rounded brick wall, which leads you to the front of the house and the surprise of its construction.

The house is basically three interconnecting houses, with the public area, including the kitchen, dining room, living room and bathroom on one side, and the private area, including bedrooms and bathrooms on the other side. In between is a large family room which is the middle ground, connecting the two sections.

The kitchen is the show-piece in the house. It’s a Bulthaup, a German-designed range of kitchen tools and cabinets, which is also known for its ergonomic features. It fits perfectly with the late MCM design of this house.

The house is nestled down in a small dell with plantings which date back 50+ years, and now shield the house from passers-by. It overlooks a quiet pond, which attracts birds and wildlife. At the east end of the house, there is a lovely swimming pool, perfect for long, hot Baltimore afternoons.

Where: St. George’s Road parallels Northern Parkway between Roland Avenue and Falls Road. This house is about half-way down the Northern Parkway hill, and is accessible from both St. George’s and Northern Parkway. It is close to a range of schools from pre-K through university years. It’s close to grocery shopping and restaurants along Roland Avenue, and now with the expansion of Cross Keys, it’s one additional attractive feature in the neighborhood.

Final Appraisal: This house, designed by Tom Gaudreau, has all of the hallmarks and details of a home custom built for a special client – himself. This is the first time the house has been on the market since 1996, and it’s a literal one-of-a-kind listing! The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.

Editor’s note: This column previously identified the property’s address as 1008 St. George’s Road. The correct address is 1003 St. George’s Road.

2505 Pocock Road, Fallston.

Hot House: Harford Hill, a Piece of Equestrian History in Harford County. 7 Bedrooms/10 Baths. 12,572 Square Feet. Asking price: $15 million.

What: This five-part Georgian manor, built in 1929, the boom years of grand architecture, is situated on overlooking the fields and forests of “The Manor” as locals call the historic “My Lady’s Manor” area of Harford County. The house was commissioned by S. Bryce Wing, who was president of the National Steeplechase Association, and an avid fox-hunter and rider.

You enter the 246-acre property from Pocock Road, and along a long tree-lined drive. As you arrive at the house, you will see a five-part Georgian brick house which has an elegance that will last through time.

The warm and gracious rooms are filled with classic millwork and trim, detailed fireplace surrounds, including one charmer with two squirrels eating at a tiny table, a sweeping staircase that leads up three stories, and ample space for your family and friends.

The property is a mix of woodlands and pastures, with several paddocks for schooling horses. The eleven-stall working barn is ready to receive your string of horses, along with a carriage barn with space for seven more horses. Another barn has been converted to a party barn, perfect for sunny summer barn dances, or a cozy holiday party, complete with hot toddies.

Much of the land is in conservation and fox-hunting easements, and there is some speculation that it could be sub-divided into large lots, but that is subject to Harford County zoning requirements.

Where: Harford Hill is on Pocock Road, just off Jarrettsville Pike, south of Ladew Topiary Gardens, and the My Lady’s Manor steeplechase races. The area is rural by design and most of the amenities, such as a pharmacy and grocery store, are south on Jarrettsville Pike.

Final Appraisal: This is such a one-time-only listing for a very special house. It’s got everything – acreage, history, and of course, location, location, location! The listing for the house is here.

All photographs from the listing.