A family seeking a fresh start left New York after years there and discovered it in Annapolis, Maryland—a 1920s waterfront residence that accommodated their expanding household. The property’s setting transformed their daily experience, according to interior designer Christopher Boutlier, who remarked, “I love Annapolis for its relationship to the water and the particular quality of light that comes with it.”
Architect Neal Thomson of Thomson & Cooke Architects also appreciates the city’s unique feel, saying, “It feels like a small town, very walkable, and the added element of being on the water is such a game changer.”
New Waterfront Setting
The clients, who share the home with their two young children, wanted to gain just enough space while adapting to their new waterfront setting. With relatives nearby and remote work making the move possible, two dedicated work-from-home spaces were essential. Neal Thomson notes that “pulling the heart of the home closer to the water” was a key goal.
To achieve this, a significant overhaul of the century-old house was required. The house had previously been a rental property and, according to Neal Thomson, was “kind of trapped in many different styles.” Nearly the entire first, second, and third floors were renovated, with structural reconfigurations on the main level and in the primary suite.
Builder Zach Fajen of Fajen & Brown oversaw the construction, which included a complete overhaul of the kitchen, powder room, office, breakfast nook, dining room, and two living spaces, along with extensive work upstairs. Despite the renovations, preserving the character of the house—and its Eastport setting—was essential.
Preserving Character
“Every house and street has its own personality,” Zach Fajen says. “As a builder, it’s rewarding to work on homes where you can make them function better for modern living while still respecting the architecture and character that make Eastport special.” The floor plan was reorganized to balance formal and casual spaces, with more formal areas toward the front and casual family spaces toward the rear, taking advantage of the waterfront setting.
A key move was preserving the sightline from the front door all the way to the water. Neal Thomson notes, “It’s not a huge floor plate, but it lives big.” This balance, between old and new, refined and relaxed, guided Christopher Boutlier‘s approach to the interiors, which pair the relaxed pace of Annapolis with some of the sophistication and energy the couple loved about New York.
In the living room, a palette of cream, tobacco, black, and warm wood allows the water views to remain the star. A paneled fireplace wall gives the room architectural weight, with a dark stone surround providing contrast. The combination of antique and vintage pieces brings a collected quality to the space, while the low, generous sectional keeps sightlines open.
The dining room is more atmospheric, with a broad arched opening establishing separation without cutting it off from the surrounding spaces. Dark wood furniture is juxtaposed with a woven pendant and relaxed Roman shades, creating a sense of contrast between traditional architecture and simple, almost monastic elements.
For everyday meals, the breakfast room takes a more casual approach, with a built-in banquette maximizing the footprint and a combination of dark table, mismatched wood chairs, and a long linear fixture overhead. The kitchen features clean lines warmed by oak cabinetry, with white perimeter cabinets keeping the space bright and a wood island topped in dark stone reading more like a piece of furniture.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom features an upholstered bed, tonal bedding, and pale walls, establishing a restful foundation punctuated by dark wood nightstands and sculptural lighting. The adjoining bathroom brings the home‘s traditional architecture and cleaner contemporary sensibility together, with a dark wood vanity grounding the pale finishes and an arched tub alcove creating a sense of enclosure.
The powder room, meanwhile, offered an opportunity to turn up the drama, with a sculptural dark stone sink sitting against paneled walls, joined by aged brass fittings, dark sconces, and a shapely mirror. Despite its stronger material choices, the room still belongs unmistakably to the rest of the house.
Executing the level of detail within a defined budget required close collaboration among all three teams. Zach Fajen notes, “We worked with the design team and clients to find creative ways to maintain the budget without compromising the high level of design.” The project ultimately came in just under budget, a feat Neal Thomson calls “a real achievement.”
The finished home feels neither like a New York residence transplanted to Maryland nor a conventional coastal retreat. Instead, it occupies the space between the two: traditional but clean-lined, polished but approachable, and closely connected to the water without relying on a single nautical cliché.
