Waterfront restoration

Southern Living, Oct 2002 by Staab, Nancy

An Annapolis home receives a dramatic face-lift that accommodates its historic location and a family of avid seafarers.

Though homeowners Vickie and David Smick were attracted to their modest yellow cottage from the start, what really sold them was its backyard dock access. "My friends joke that we bought a house to go with our dock instead of vice versa," David says with a laugh.

While the family prized their waterfront locale, they felt the home needed a few renovations to make it more in line with the Colonial Revival architecture of their historic neighborhood. That's where Washington,ac., architect George Gordon came in.

Front Entry Transformation

George began with the front of the house, pulling the middle section out for a more identifiable entrance. A curving brick driveway and new landscaping further define the entry. Gables and dormer windows were added to enhance the character of the house and connect it to the surrounding neighborhood. Finally, the front entrance was made more formal with the addition of a pediment, transom, and sidelights. A few coats of paint and a mahogany door complete the updated look.

Historic Neighborhood

The front face-lift was a piece of cake compared to the challenges George faced when he proposed adding a wing to the back of the house. The addition was designed to maximize views of the water and to expand the living areas with a spacious new family room and second-story master suite. Because of where the house is sited, the local historic commission was rightfully concerned that an addition might obscure the "view corridor" from across Spa Creek.

George's plan had carefully considered this problem and dutifully avoided it. In deference to the commission, which discourages large windows, he encased the addition in a delicate trellis framework. The framework partitions the expansive glass without blocking the view.

Easy Living

The Smicks enjoy the benefits of waterfront living, while being only minutes from downtown Annapolis. David reflects, "We almost never use a car on the weekends. It's the simple pleasures that we want to enjoy." NANCY STAAB

where to find it

WATERFRONT RESTORATION

Page 162: Architecture by George Gordon, George Gordon Architects, 1032 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007,(202) 333-9270.