This project renovates and expands an early-20th-century Victorian farmhouse in Talbot County, Maryland, overlooking the Choptank River. The original six-room, T-shaped home—fronted by a three-bay porch facing the sunrise—had deteriorated due to poor foundations and long neglect. The new owners envisioned a weekend retreat with a first-floor bedroom suite and, on the second floor, additional sleeping space, an art studio, and a screened sleeping porch. They also requested a garden shed and restoration of the historic springhouse.
A reconfigured approach road shifted the arrival side of the house to the south, and expansion toward the water was prohibited. The design solution transformed the T-shape into an H-shaped plan by adding a central entry volume on the south, creating a new façade while preserving access to river views. Two bay windows and the restored original front porch enhance the home’s connection to the Choptank. A sympathetic two-story wing and a restored side porch establish a cohesive new entry sequence. All rooms are oriented to maximize water views, including the new second-floor screened sleeping porch.
The addition nearly doubles the home’s size while allowing the original sixroom structure to remain legible. Materials and detailing—new wood windows, matching siding, and antique pine floors—were chosen to blend seamlessly with the historic farmhouse. While intended primarily as a summer retreat, the home can now be used year-round, with deep porches providing natural ventilation that minimizes reliance on air conditioning. A new balcony off the primary suite sits under a refined gable facing the farm, and a modest garden shed recalls the small boathouses found along the Choptank shoreline.
The result is a respectful, cohesive expansion that preserves the farmhouse’s historic character while adapting it for modern retreat living.
Project team includes
- Contractor: Reed & Lambert, Inc.
- Photography: Anice Hoachlander
