Imagine driving down a quiet leafy street, bordered by small 19th century family homes—a perfect slice of Americana. But lift your eyes and surprisingly, you’ll notice water all around you. Welcome to Lawton Avenue. This sunny yellow home is the rarest of finds, a gracious family dwelling that combines friendly small-town living with the beauty of the coastal Chesapeake.

Located in Gratitude, a small peninsula within the heart of Rock Hall, Maryland that was once the location of a steamboat wharf, this 2800+ square foot Lawton Avenue residence makes the most of its picturesque location. Set back slightly from the street, your first impression is of windows and porches. And when you climb the porch steps and see the views, you understand why. Across the street is an almost uninterrupted view of the Chesapeake Bay proper, a vista that only gets better the higher up you go. The exterior of the house is a charmingly updated take on 19th century single family homes, executed in a cheerful shade of gold with durable Hardie Plank siding.

The porch and an open deck wrap the façade of the home, providing a welcoming approach to the front door. Inside, a sunny foyer flows naturally into an-open concept dining room with an adjoining kitchen and den. The entire space is flooded in natural light from the generous first floor windows and a French door off of the dining room, supplemented by additional sunlight radiating from several skylights.

It’s easy to imagine gathering friends and family in the u-shaped kitchen, which boasts everything the casual foodie might need: a six-burner gas stove, a walk-in pantry with a wine cooler and a suite of updated appliances. The kitchen opens to a bright den with high ceilings and more skylights that expands the entertaining space further. Off the den is another porch/ sunroom, looking over the shady, well-landscaped back yard and guest cottage, while a small hallway leads to a comfortable and spacious first floor master bedroom with ensuite bath and walk-in shower.

Returning to the dining room leads you to another guest bedroom as well as a well-appointed full laundry room. From there, cross the foyer to a staircase leading to the second floor. As you climb, the impression of light, sky, and water grows stronger. A small office/ library space on the second-floor landing capitalizes on the stunning Bay views with multiple banks of casement windows, and the feeling of airiness is amplified by an elegantly vaulted ceiling. Echoing the dining space on the first floor, a common area/ den space on the second floor is also serviced by a French doors that open onto a second-floor deck facing the Chesapeake Bay. A private family suite opens off of the common area with another roomy and well-appointed bedroom and adjoining full bath.

The 1/3 acre property around the Lawton Avenue house continues the theme of embracing the outdoors. The space has been well-considered for entertaining and active lifestyles. A guest cottage with a bedroom, bath and sauna at the rear of the property is perfect for weekend guests who arrived by water at one of the neighboring marinas. Alongside is a detached garage with a full workshop offering plenty of space for sailing or paddling gear, and a studio above for working up watercolors of Eastern Neck Island or Swan Creek.

Despite the historic-inspired exterior, the home has been fully updated to ensure it is energy efficient and cozy year-round. Geothermal heating and cooling provides comfortable temperatures indoors whether it’s a humid summer day or a frosty Chesapeake evening. A tankless water heater is another thoughtful and cost-effective touch.

Its enviable location and inviting, well-considered interiors make the Lawton Avenue house unique, but the multiple porches, decks and sunrooms, plus the guest cottage and garage make this home the perfect place for owners and their fortunate guests to enjoy the Chesapeake in comfort and style. Surrounded by marinas and visiting boaters who travel for hours to enjoy Rock Hall’s small-town charm and water-oriented lifestyle, the Lawton Avenue property provides the perfect opportunity to put down roots and make this place your home.