On (and Off) the Market: 3803 St. Paul Street

This great Palmer & Lamdin house was on and off the market in a flash. Actually, it probably never went on the open market, but was snatched up before it ever hit the MLS. The house sits at the corner of St. Paul Street and St. Martin's Road on a double lot, but it's set back, so you can't see it very well. There are only exterior shots of this house, but it is very indicitive of P&L's style in the early 1930s. Enjoy!

Here is the original advertisement for the house, which looks to have been built in 1929. 

Here is a 1931 advertisement for the house. I wonder if it took that long to sell (it was during the Depression!).

By 1951, the house has morphed from "Charleston" design to Georgian! Update: The new owner of 3803 said that this is absolutely not a description of her house, mainly because of the mention of a third floor. There may have been a typo in the listing!

In 1983, it was described as "New Orleans" style!

Franciscan Friars Novitiate

My friend, The Architect, was in town this lovely spring weekend for part two of our search for all things Palmer & Lamdin. Last time he visited, we did the big three: Roland Park, Homeland and Guilford. This time, we went a little farther afield, visiting Bancroft Road, Dumbarton and the Franciscan Friars Novitiate, aka the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua, in western Howard County. 

I have visited this property a number of times because of its peaceful and contemplative nature. The Shrine appears on the list of projects from Palmer & Lamdin and its successive architectural firms. I was always surprised to see it on the list, as when it was built in in the late 1920s and was located in what was then a very rural section of Howard County. 

The property on which the Shrine is located was once owned by the Carroll family, and one of the original houses still remains just 100 yards from the Shrine. 

I love strolling through the four arcades which surround a central court-yard with a fountain.

The symmetry of the site, with its arches and groin vaulted ceilings, appeals to my sense of order.  

For the first time, we were able to have a small glimpse of the Shrine's library, and were delighted to see the small staircase leading to the mezzanine.

From the HABS report comes this description:

The library consists of a large room which is three bays wide, two bays deep, and one story high. It features a large fireplace centered on its west wall, similar to that in the refectory. This room is also beautifully paneled, and features a half story high, open book stack loft, which runs along the perimeter of the east, west and north walls of this room. The paneled library, with its fireplace of Italian stone, is stocked with volumns on such topics as Franciscans, the saints, prayer and meditation

Sadly, there were people meeting in the room, so we couldn't see all of it. Maybe next time!

Here are a few more images from our visit on Saturday:

The HABS reports have loads of detailed information on the Shrine, Carrollton Hall, which is on the same property, and the nearby Folly Quarter Farm, another historic Carroll property. 

No. 2 St. John's Road

Palmer and Lamdin had a style of houses which they referred to as "Charleston" or Southern Colonial style, which has been objected to by friends who actually know Charleston architecture. These houses are smaller than the usual P&L houses and have almost none of their distinctive hallmarks. You can find them scattered around Roland Park and Homeland. 

In Roland Park, there is a group of four or five along Roland Avenue, just south of Longwood Road, and then turning the corner on to St. John's Road. The ones in Homeland are along Middleton Court and the east side of Springlake Way near the lakes.

This house is No. 2 St. John's Road, and I found the listing for it here. It last sold in 2017. It's not an unattractive house, but it really lacks the cachet that their other designs have.

On the Market (Again): 4207 Saint Paul Street

This house, 4207 St. Paul Street, was sold in April of 2022 for $523,000 and then it sold again in May for $651,000. Now it's back on the market again for an astonishing $1,585,000, a 143% increase. 

Clearly, it's been flipped. I can't find the earlier listings for the house, but you can tell that a lot of the work on this house is newly finished, because it's so trendy.

ALL of the interiors of the windows have been painted black (ugh), the original dining room has been combined into the kitchen which, oddly, is just off the front door,

a former study may now be the dining room and the living room opens to what looks like a new patio. 

However, it looks like the flipper respected many of the original details of the house. All of the bathrooms look like they've been re-done and of course, the kitchen is new as well. 

But the house is done in shades of black, white and grey, and looks very monotonous. The house has clearly been staged for sale, and the black and white furnishings don't do anything to enhance it. 

And worst of all, they've added tacky sliding barn doors in the bedroom. JUST SAY NO TO BARN DOORS IN BEDROOMS ANYWHERE EXCEPT FOR BARNS.

This is one of Palmer & Lamdin's less interesting house, just a simple center hall, brick Colonial. None of their interesting touches, no combined brick and stonework, no fascinating details. 

To see the full listing, please click HERE.

5206 Springlake Way - It's Back (on the market)

First, apologies for being missing in action for the past few months. I had some surgery and was pre-occupied with all of that.

Now, a kind reader let me know that 5206 Springlake Way is on the market again for the second time in less than three years. I wrote about it here in May of 2020. The current listing is here. And it's already SOLD!

It's a relatively small house with only three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. But it is almost 3,000 square feet. This house is one of a row of three houses Lamdin designed, and this is the northern-most of the three. The southern of the three is the Norman-style house that Lamdin designed for himself. It hasn't been on the market for 30+ years. You can see some Norman influences in this house as well. 

If you check out this post from October of 2021, a friend and I were lucky enough to be invited into look at the center of the three houses. I still need to drive over to Homeland and get some pictures of Lamdin's own house. Stay tuned.

On the Market: 805 W. University Parkway - The Other Side

You might remember a few months ago when the "other side" of this house went on the market. These are two semi-detached houses that read, at first glance, like one large house. This property is situated on the South, or upper side of University Parkway, looking out over the dell between the two sides.

Here's what the listing says:

Here is your opportunity to own an extraordinary Roland Park home set on a hill at the apex of Centennial Park. Designed in an Italianate Style by noted architect Edward L. Palmer Jr., this seven bedroom, three and a half bath home has tremendous spaces indoors and outdoors.

The main entry to the home is an airy, Mediterranean-inspired sunroom with large windows and tile floor which is one of the many relaxing places that you'll love.

This leads to the main level of the home where you will find an entrance area with a wide staircase and some of the gorgeous refinished hardwood floors that are throughout the home. A front facing living area features a fireplace, built-in shelving and recessed lighting.

On the southwest side of the home is a formal dining room that leads to the large, updated kitchen.

Expertly remodeled to feel harmonious with the classic design of the home it has the modern touches that you'll appreciate like: a Bertazzoni six-burner gas range with hood, large center seating and prep island with sink, expansive granite countertops on three sides of the room, a second sink and storage everywhere. The kitchen has a walkout to the private rear patio which is perfect for outdoor dining or morning coffee. This area has a walk up to the rear parking pad which is off a secluded private lane.

The yard is fully fenced which is great for privacy and pets. The main level of the home also features a remodeled half bath. The second floor of the home has four large bedrooms including one with a fireplace that could also be another living room, playroom, or study. This level also has two updated bathrooms that are in character with the historic home yet feature wonderful heated flooring.

The top floor has three more bedrooms and a beautiful bathroom with stylish soaking bath and tiled shower. There is also a dedicated laundry area on this floor. The lower level of the home is unfinished but with its large rooms with tall ceilings it could be finished off into an incredible space perfect for a workout room, game room, home theater, or all three!

This house was constructed with efficiency by design and has been shown to have surprising low energy usage for a home of its size.

The full listing for the house is here.  

On the Market: 3703 N. Charles Street

From Baltimore Fishbowl's Hot House:
Classic Georgian in Guilford.
6 Beds/5 Baths. 5,093 Square Feet.
3703 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218. $1,648,000.

When you hear the expression “they just don’t make them like that anymore” this is the kind of style, elegance and craftsmanship of which they speak. The details throughout this house are rare in newly built residences. From the layered and extravagant millwork in almost every room, to the porte cochère leading to the old-school “motor court,” to the beautiful grounds to the myriad details, you will find many hallmarks of the architects, Palmer & Lamdin who designed this house in 1922 as part of their expansive portfolio in Guilford.

As you enter through a double set of beautiful double doors, you’re greeted by a wide center hallway leading to a gracious living room with a beautiful fireplace, and a bright, sunny sunroom beyond that, accessible through two set of French doors. 

The dining room is accented by detailed millwork, and beautiful, deep bay window which overlooks the gardens. A classic swinging door leads to the kitchen which was completely renovated in 2016 with professional-grade appliances, marble counters and a large butler’s pantry.

The second floor features a large main bedroom with en-suite bath with heated floors, two walk-in dressing rooms/closets and a fireplace. There are two additional bedrooms and baths on the second floor, as well as an all-weather glassed-in sunroom, with a wall of bookcases that could be used as a home office or a playroom. The third floor has three additional bedrooms, as well as two full bathrooms and a dressing room with wardrobes for storing out-of-season clothing.

As you move outside, the motor court leads to a large two-car garage with a second floor that could be used as an exercise area or an in-law or au pair apartment. The grounds of this house have been beautifully landscaped which are completely private for playing or entertaining.

This house is tucked in between Bishop’s and St. Martin’s Roads, which are basically the same street. There is ample private parking on the property for you and your guests, because this is a house made for entertaining. It is close to the Hopkins Homewood Campus and Union Memorial Hospital, as well as all of the fun restaurants and shops on St. Paul Street, just below 33^rd Street and the Waverly Market.

This is a house that makes a statement. It would suit a family with lots of friends of all ages and who love to entertain. It’s convenient to uptown and downtown, and as it’s been for the past one hundred years, the prestige of an address in Guilford. The house goes on the market on September 14, 2022. The listing for the house is here.

All images from the listing.