Unless a 10-year resident or a frequent patron of the shops and night life in historic Fells Point, a visitor to Bond Street could not help but notice a group of beautifully restored, brick townhomes lined up at the edge of the cobblestones.
Imagine the surprise, then, to learn they were built exclusively by Baltimore developers, Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse less than eight years ago. The colonial-like exteriors of each of the three-story atrium-style townhouses belie the newness of construction in the meticulous architectural details they bear. The residences' carved wood cornices at roofs' edges, arched windows and, in the case of Phil Johnson's and Sue Quinn's house, wrought iron window boxes, could not have been more accurately reproduced if this little plot of land was the setting of an 18th century film.
The interior wooden shutters at the windows of the Johnson and Quinn home, as well as the little figurines on their sills, lead visitors to expect a colonial interior decor to match. This, however, is not the couple's style, which is immediately apparent beyond the threshold.
Without an entrance hall, the front door opens directly onto a bright and enormously cheerful dining area with an open kitchen just beyond. The choice of Benjamin Moore's "yellow squash" paint color on the walls, sleek rich maple cabinetry and light teak wood table and chairs make the already 15-foot-wide interior stretch even more.
A modern, discus-shaped light fixture hangs from a 10-foot ceiling, casting a soft, buttery glow onto the table and the oak flooring.
"Contemporary can be warm," said Sue Quinn, as if anticipating comments to the contrary. "And all our wood is light."
A retired employee of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, she and her husband, Phil Johnson, a retired vice president and senior manager at Honeywell and Lockheed, enjoy not only showing off their 2,900-square-foot home, but also entertaining a wide circle of friends.
In 2003, the couple paid $657,000 for their three-story townhouse with a fourth-floor sunroom that opens onto a deck. During the past seven years, they spent $80,000 or so on extensive remodeling, including an overhaul of multiple staircases that now have open risers of oak with black iron railings. The same local company that made the iron work, C&S Ornamental Iron Co., also added wrought iron window boxes to the home's front. Finally, the couple added a large wine cooling unit to a second floor bar.
A feature of the home's interior architectural design is an open, three-story atrium between the living room and a first-floor office and garage at the rear of the unit. The second level consists of two guest suites, one in the front and one in back of the home, with a fully outfitted bar and lounge situated between the two. The main attraction of the English-style pub is the richness of the cherry wood bar and stools that contrast with the federal blue shade of paint on the walls. Artwork here includes a photograph of the serene Napa Valley and a unique clay tile mosaic of the Chesapeake Bay region in true scale.
The home's master suite occupies the entire third floor. Burled maple furniture, along with glass block trim make for a distinct deco-style.
A fourth floor sunroom is ideal for lounging before or after enjoying the rooftop deck. Clearly, the house — from first-floor hominess to the open sky and great views of water and city — was designed for parties.
"We love city living, wine and food," said Sue Quinn, who has been married to Johnson for 22 years. "This house works for our lifestyle. We love to entertain."
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Making the dream
Dream element: The colonial-style townhouse of Phil Johnson and Sue Quinn is located on an enviable piece of property in Baltimore's Fells Point. Ideally suited to the urban lifestyle of its owners, the house sits among the shops and restaurants of this bustling historic neighborhood. A rooftop deck allows for magnificent views of the harbor and cityscape.
Dream design: An open atrium allows for private, courtyard entertaining, as well as providing interior light on three levels.
Dream move: Quinn and Johnson continue to enjoy the journey that brought them from Columbia to Inner Harbor East, and then finally, to the excitement of being residents of Fells Point. Commenting on the smart move, Sue Quinn quipped, "We're smart, because we're retired."