There's the architectural wow factor, which makes you marvel at the design and building materials; there's the site wow factor, which overwhelms you with the property or view; there's the interior design wow factor, which makes you wonder why you didn't think of that; and then there's the beyond wow factor, which just stops you in your tracks, causes an overload for the eyes and creates a where-do-I-look-first scenario. 

The last wow factor is the case with the home of Nancy and Joe McMullin. From entry to exit and every room in between, it wows, continues to wow, and leaves you shaking your head, uttering "WOW!"

To start, it's important to know the McMullins travel a lot - a lot. When they do, they go all over the world and buy a lot of things for their home - a lot of things.

"It's a lifelong collection," Ms. McMullin offered. "A lot of things are from South Africa - all over Africa, actually."

The home is actually two condominiums combined into one. Located at The Point complex along Spa Creek in Annapolis, this has not one, but two balconies - each with fantastic water and city views. Though the home is ground-floor at entry, the balcony is one level above-ground and, when looking out, it appears suspended directly above the water.

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"It sort of feels like you're on a ship, and since we like cruising, that's OK with us," Ms. McMullin said.

Upon entry, a large granite and copper fountain spans an entire wall.

"I had seen a small one behind a hotel registration desk, so I asked them for a source," Ms. McMullin said.

This wasn't the only instance of Ms. McMullin using hotels for inside leads and design know-how. Take, for instance, the ceiling spanning the enormous entirety of the living and dining rooms.

"We went to Disney World ... and met with one of the designers," Ms. McMullin said matter-of-factly. "They shared some of their secrets."The result is something you might see in an upscale, African-themed resort - thousands of thin, willow reeds form an arched, thatched ceiling, complete with recessed lighting. It is jaw-dropping.

It's also hard to imagine the expense and work that went into it.

"The ceiling is concrete, then treated plywood for fire protection, then there's a metal frame," Ms. McMullin began. "These are bamboo," she said as she pointed to the long crossmembers. "Then there's all those little sticks."

Behind the dining table on the far wall, a built-in bookcase with an African look spans the entire wall. Atop the handsome, exotic wood dining table sits a large wooden bowl.

"This is a village tray that feeds the whole village," Ms. McMullin explained. "They'd put fruits and vegetables (in it)."

Inside this village tray, though, are glass balls in every shade of purple. All around the table are chunks of beautiful purple amethyst.

"They call me Purple Nancy," Ms. McMullin said. And it makes sense, for she's wearing purple and there's purple everywhere in the home.

Just beyond the dining table, next to one of the two balconies, sits a piano - not just any piano, but a purple grand piano.

"The piano was my graduation present when I finished my doctorate," said Ms. McMullin, a patron of the arts whose career was in educational administration. "I painted it purple."

But because it wasn't a perfect paint job, a painter was brought in to redo the masterpiece.

"We took it down to the bare wood and baked enamel on it," Ms. McMullin explained.

Though the purple piano was clearly a first for this reporter, a kitchen made to match the piano was another one of those design inspirations never seen before and likely never to be seen again.

"We gave that color to the man who was redoing the cabinets, so now our kitchen cabinets and piano are matching colors," Ms. McMullin said.

Sure enough, the kitchen, located on the front of the home, has cabinets that area as purple as purple lacquer cabinets could be, along with stainless steel appliances and caramel-colored granite counters. The reed ceiling and recessed lighting continues into this room with a seamless integration onto the soffits. A purple teapot, purple watering can and other purple accessories sit upon the counter.

The kitchen is accessed from either the formal dining area or an informal dining space on the opposite side. Here a glass-top table with seating for four sits below an African-themed antler chandelier. The table pedestal is another travel treasure.

"This is an African cooker turned upside down," Ms. McMullin said. "I don't even want to speculate what they cooked in it."

A gorgeous, purple (of course) silk wall hanging came from India.

"I've learned in travels, if you find anything that's an absolute treasure, you just take it," Ms. McMullin said.

A built-in small shelf display and a large shelf running atop the room provide more space for her treasures. In the corner, a strange statue made of shells watches the room.

"This is an interesting piece - it wards off evil spirits," Ms. McMullin said.

From here we continued on to the powder room, where dark, paneled walls are accompanied by a beautiful beige, rough stone sink flanked by two enormous chunks of amethyst.

"There's amethyst in every room of the house," Ms. McMullin said.

Opposite the dining room in the center of the home is the grand living room, which is separated into two spaces. A large gathering space with two purple upholstered couches is central. The dramatic beige stone found underfoot is also found on a floor-to-ceiling fireplace.

On the far side of the fireplace, nearing the second of the two balconies, an intimate, U-shaped conversation pit is a uniquely different but quite special spot. Gold walls provide the perfect complement to the built-in purple seating running the entire U shape. Purple fabric panels with gold stripes provide a nice backrest. Here, too, more travel treasures are on full display, hanging from the ceiling, adorning the walls and sitting on the coffee table. Of course, there's amethyst here, too.

A bowl resting upon the floor holds all sorts of really interesting-looking objects.

"These are all African instruments," Ms. McMullin explained, adding that they are a favorite of all children who visit the home.

A wooden vessel of some sort sits atop a table filled with books.

"This is an African child's canoe," Ms. McMullin explained. "It had these tips that I had to cut off when I decided to use it as a book holder."

Continuing with the African theme, the TV room has been devoted mostly to giraffes - the long-necked beauties are everywhere.

Not to be outdone by the interior counterparts, the balconies are also a study in far-off cultures and exotic treasures.

Whether its contents are from Africa, India, Vietnam, New Guinea, Indonesia or China, this is a home of international proportion.

At the far end of the apartment, a long hallway offers up three bedrooms. In the guest bedroom, an elaborately carved, wooden, four-poster, canopied bed, dressed in the finest Indian textiles and pillows, offers perhaps the most exotically regal bed seen on this side of the Taj Mahal. Gold tone Indian screens hang on the ceiling, and a gold tone lamp table from Sri Lanka sits aside the bed.

Admittedly, the couple may be at the end of their treasure collecting, at least until they find more space.

" 'Where are you going to put it?' I keep saying," said Mr. McMullin, a retired Air Force officer. "We've tapered off from buying."

From one room to the next, it's just a feast for the eyes. And though given warning by a friend who referred this home that this would be something you just can't believe, it truly is.

"Everything took awhile," Ms. McMullin said. "It's a very satisfying feeling to work two to three years and work on something and have it turn out the way you want it."

As for all those treasures, they are indeed a part of not just the McMullin home, but also the McMullins' life and all the places they've traveled. Each has a story, a memory, a special spot in their heart - each brings happiness.

"If I'm going to be several months a year in some place, I have to have my art around me," Ms. McMullin said. "It just makes me happy."

Donna L. Cole is a freelance writer living in the Annapolis area. If you'd like your home considered for the "Home of the Week," e-mail her at writerdle@aol.com.