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by Walinda P. West
Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
A stately 7,000-square-foot brick home in the Fishing Creek Farm community of Annapolis was the heart of family life for one Annapolis couple for 25 years—a backdrop to birthdays, celebrations, and countless gatherings with friends. But as the couple’s two sons set out on their own and the house began to echo with quiet, they felt an undeniable pull toward a new chapter and something different—a new build that reflected who they are now. The vision: a refined coastal retreat scaled down in size yet elevated in detail.
To get there, the couple purchased a lot just four doors down from their present home that boasted their same views of the Thomas Point Peninsula, where South River meets the Chesapeake Bay. They enlisted architect Sam Stusek of Stusek Creative Group to design a home that would feel as appropriate in Annapolis as it would in the Hamptons. Because Stusek had designed the couple’s beach home 15 years ago, along with other homes in the Fishing Creek Farm enclave, his familiarity with their lifestyle, coupled with his deep knowledge of Anne Arundel County’s zoning restrictions and floodplain requirements, made him the ideal collaborator.
This site demanded both sensitivity and precision, Stusek says. “You have to respect the ecology and the elements while designing something that will stand the test of time.” From the start, Stusek says, the couple envisioned a home that would evoke Nantucket’s classic shingle-style with details that celebrate craftsmanship over ornamentation.
The success of the project thrived on collaboration. Annapolis-based Pyramid Builders executed the design with craftsmanship that feels both invisible and impeccable. Certain special touches can be seen, while others, designed to make the homeowners’ lives easier, are out of view. Extensive millwork, hand-finished surfaces, and seamless transitions from room to room create a sense of continuity and fluidity. “When we saw the initial plans, it resonated with us,” says David Attenberger of Pyramid Builders. The homeowners selected architect Sam Stusek and brought in interior designer Erin Paige Pitts for her expertise in coastal design. With Stusek, Pyramid Builders, and Pitts, the result is a distinct instance of New England charm reimagined for Maryland living.
Outside with its gambrel roofline and crisp white trim, the architecture nods to a classic Cape Cod style. But it’s the front door that sets it apart: a soft, robin’s-egg blue framed by crisp white millwork and a grid of glass panes—a special element that almost feels like unwrapping a Tiffany box. Even before you cross the threshold, there’s a sense that something thoughtful and beautiful awaits inside.
Inside, the staircase crafted by Pyramid is a moment: a seamless sweep of plaster imported from Belgium that unfolds like sculptural ribbon. The sweep of the stairs draws your eyes to the top, where natural daylight spills through a tall paned window, highlighting every contour and shadow. Wide white oak treads ground the composition with warmth and texture, a counterpoint to the plaster’s velvety finish. Along the walls, tailored millwork adds structure while lanterns and sconces give the space utility.
Throughout the home, the same attention to detail and design carries into every room. Designer Erin Paige Pitts approached each space with a light hand, letting texture and proportion take the lead over color or pattern.
“When I was hired for the project, I was provided with a set of hand-drawn floor plans and exterior elevations,” Pitts says. “My work began from that point forward to develop the full interior vision for the project, designing and developing the interior details that would bring the home’s interior spaces to life.”
In the living area, a palette of blues and layered neutrals evokes coastal design without a single overt reference. A custom sofa faces the fireplace, the soft curves echoing the sculptural quality of the stair. Custom built-ins throughout the downstairs showcase collected objects and coastal artifacts. Together, the living area feels curated yet approachable.
The kitchen extends that same ethos of refined simplicity. Cabinetry in a soft, warm white pairs with quartz counters and handcrafted tiles, a combination that feels fresh yet timeless. A 12-foot kitchen table the couple has owned for 25 years anchors the dining space in the same hue chosen for the floors—a continuity that threads through the home. Overhead, lantern-style pendants introduce a note of old-world charm.
The couple chose to have their primary suite on the first floor with a 22-foot French white oak wood-beamed ceiling that extends the length of two floors. The bedroom offers views of the water and a marsh where herons, egrets, and a bald eagle are daily visitors. From the window, an American Flag sways on a pole in the wind—a must-have for the owners.
Upstairs, all the rooms challenge for best-in-class: a combination man cave and office that makes use of space over the garage, two guest bedrooms, and a separate lounge area. If you had to choose a first-place winner in the upstairs, it might be the guest bedroom with the palladium-style window that creates an architectural focal point from inside and outside the home. The curve of the arch softens the geometry of the divided panes, giving it an almost storybook feel. Framed by a soft and unexpected use of café curtains and a built-in window seat, that room, like all the rooms in the house, invites guests to stay awhile.
What began as the couple’s desire for a home that felt “more them” has become something more profound—a place that embodies ease, craftsmanship, and the coastal serenity they longed for. Every surface tells a story of handwork and intention; every room opens to the next with an effortless flow that evokes both conversation and stillness. And just as the couple wanted—a new way of living.
ARCHITECTURE: Sam Stusek, Stusek Creative Group Architects
BUILDER: Pyramid Builders
INTERIOR DESIGN: Erin Paige Pitts, Erin Paige Pitts Interiors
LANDSCAPE & HARDSCAPE: Walnut Hill Landscape Company
HARDWOOD FLOORING: Burchette & Burchette, installed by Elite Hardwood Flooring
CUSTOM MILLWORK & CABINETRY: ICD Architectural Millwork
STAIRS: Saienni Stairs
TILE: Supplied by Chesapeake Marble & Tile
INTERIOR DOORS: TruStile, TW Perry
WINDOWS & EXTERIOR DOORS: Marvin Ultimate Clad, Forbes Design Center
SECURITY: Petitbon Alarm
APPLIANCES: ADU
Additional Sources:
LIVING ROOM
Sofa: custom by designer
Coffee table: Four Hands
Lounge chairs: Wesley Hall
Benches: Redford House
White end tables: Mr. and Mrs. Howard
Area Rug: Custom by designer
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Bed: Wesley Hall
Bedside tables: Chaddock
Rug: custom by designer
Front Door Color: Benjamin Moore, Passion Blue 2053-50