Waterfront Wonderful
Neutral river-rock hues and modern farmhouse chic complement this renovated riverfront home.
When Ed and Kristin Treacy first purchased their circa-1800s house, with its choppy add-ons, they were mostly taken by the five acres it sat upon, overlooking the Choptank River in Royal Oaks, MD.
“We instantly loved it for the property: the spectacular views, and the potential for summer breezes and beautiful sunsets,” says Kristin, adding, “We also liked the bones of the house and the character of the historic part, but we knew that we had to update it for modern day conveniences and to accommodate our lifestyle.”
The couple has five young adult children, and lots of friends in the DC Metro area, where they have their primary home.
To achieve the task of taking the 2-bedroom 3000-square-foot house and converting it into a 5-bedroom 4200-square-foot home, the Treacys worked with architect Speight Cook Studio and builder Mueller Homes. The interiors came later under the supervision of Jamie Merida Interiors based in nearby Easton.
Among the architectural renovation highlights are a two-story-high primary bedroom, with reclaimed wood ceiling beams; a brand-new farmhouse-style kitchen; lots of added windows and sliding-stacking doors for a better connection to the outdoors; and a screened porch off the family room, with herringbone brick floors that you might see in an 1800s home.
“It was important to us to make choices that were sympathetic to the character of the original 1800s structure,” says Kirstin.
The original brick fireplace in the living room was left intact and the flooring throughout is of reclaimed wood.
For decorating, the family turned to Jamie Merida, who operates a namesake interior design business out of his 16,000-square-foot award-winning retail store Bountiful Home. Merida and his lead designer on the project, Leigh Mayhew, visited the property and a connection was forged.
“The redesign is fabulous. This home has become a huge gathering place for our kids, the family, and all our friends.”
– homeowner Kristin Treacy
“Kristin wanted us to take the renovated home and bring it to life with a modern farmhouse aesthetic. The goal with our design was to showcase those panoramic views, while creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere that would be great for entertaining family and friends,” says Leigh.
“In addition to two main bedroom suites, we have two bedrooms with twin beds, as well as a bunkroom, to sleep more guests.”
Kristin was adamant that the palette remained neutral so as not to compete with the scenery, so the décor unfolded in river-rock creams, beiges, greys and taupes, with occasional pops of black, often found in wrought-iron accents, like lighting or furniture frames.
“The neutrals allowed us to bring in a lot of textures and layers on the open floor plan,” says Leigh. “For example, the dining room walls are finished in a textured grass-cloth. We also wanted to subtly nod to the Eastern Shore, so we incorporated some oyster and waterfowl art and accessories throughout the home.”
Mostly the house is true to the modern farmhouse aesthetic, with respect to furnishings, and to architectural details, like the barn doors separating the family room and living room. The kitchen with its Shaker style cabinetry, apron sink, pewter pendants, and bricked back-splash also speaks to the farmhouse vibe.
“A major consideration was maximizing seating options throughout,” says Leigh, adding, “This is a place a lot of people gather on weekends and holidays. The family room and screened porch had to function well for large groups. One of the best features of the renovation is that these spaces become one big room by opening the sliding-stacking doors, perfect for hosting.”
