COASTAL HAVEN

Alexandria designer Lynn Tanger and her family were looking for a relaxed retreat where they could unplug from city life when they fell for a fixer-upper: an 800-square-foot, 1950s cottage on the Little Choptank River in Cambridge, Maryland.

Critical area restrictions meant maintaining the original footprint was a must. The diminutive dwelling, encompassing two bedrooms and a loft, was shored up on a new foundation and updated. Then Tanger got busy. “I needed to fully utilize the limited square footage,” she explains. “I wanted all the comforts of a larger home in a footprint a fraction of the size.”

In the main room, vaulted ceilings and oversized light fixtures convey airiness while sliders with retractable screens face the river. Original beams and new ceiling planks maintain a rustic vibe. Tanger, who recently relocated to Wisconsin, kept the finishes light and bright, with family-friendly fabrics and unlacquered-brass accents for patina. “My goal was to be coastal without being too literal,” she says.

Interior Design: Lynn Tanger, Lynn Tanger Interiors, Inc., Neenah, Wisconsin. Contractor: Glenn P. Ruark, Inc., Cambridge, Maryland. Photography: Jenn Verrier.

NAUTICAL NOOK

Tapped to design a waterfront home in Church Creek, Maryland, with 180-degree views of Little Choptank Sanctuary, architect Christine Dayton conceived a 6,000-square-foot structure in modern-farmhouse style. Complete with three stories and six bedrooms, the traditional abode offers vistas galore—including those seen from the third-floor bedroom belonging to the family’s teenage son.

“We gave him a cozy, nautically inspired retreat tucked within the roofline,” says Dayton of the space, which features crisp, white-painted shiplap on the walls, ceilings accented with reclaimed wood elements and textiles in a range of light and dark blue hues. She took advantage of a box bay shed dormer “that invites the outside in,” she notes. “We made it a comfortable place to read, nap, hang out—and take in the view” through three black-rimmed Marvin windows.

Rustic timber columns and beams repurposed from an old Pennsylvania factory frame the custom, built-in daybed. It’s flanked by integrated shelves that display nautical treasures and embellished with inviting throw pillows. A navy blue Roman shade softens the window wall and a spherical pendant hanging overhead sounds an industrial-chic note.

Architecture: Christine Dayton, AIA, Christine M. Dayton Architect, P.A., Easton, Maryland. Builder: Focus Construction, Ltd., Easton, Maryland. Photography & Styling: Stylish Productions.