Home of the Week: Jesse and Jane Harrahill

Theirs is a love story borne in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isabel.

The electric was still out when the community residents decided a neighborhood cookout would be held to save what perishable items they could.

That's when Jane and Jesse Harrahill met. They both lived in a hidden gem of an Arnold townhouse community called Moorings on the Magothy.

"Jane had lived here for five or six years - I had been living here for 10 years," Jesse said. "We had never met."

The rest, as they say, is history. Two neighbors that had lived across the street from one another, without ever meeting, had made a truly important discovery.

"The wedding theme - don't overlook the treasure in your own backyard," laughed Jesse.

Part of the allure of the community was the location.

"It is well-placed," said Jesse, a retired Naval officer and currently working with the Consumer Products Safety Commission. "If I had to go to D.C., Bethesda or Baltimore, it was equidistant for all of them."

There was one other attractive quality, too. While their townhouse isn't on the water, there are some in the enclave of 80 homes which are, plus a community beach and nearby marina.

"There was water and there were sailboats and I thought I kind of like that idea," Jesse said.

For Jane, who works in medical sales support, convenience also was a factor in bringing her to the community.

While they now rent out Jane's townhouse, it is Jesse's that became their home together, along with Husker and Hoosier, both Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

"I'm from Indiana, he's from Nebraska," said Jane, of the names sported by their four-legged friends.

Jane wasn't exactly overjoyed with Jesse's home at first sight.

"I was irritated with a lot of things about the house," she admitted.

But there was possibility.

"The idea was to open it up, spread it out and make it more usable," said Jane.

They set out to create a home that according to Jane can be best described as, "cottage modern Chesapeake."

With the help of contractor, Jim Hay of Arnold-based Home Professionals Incorporated and Joni Zimmerman of Design Solutions in Annapolis, they've done a magnificent job.

"He's great - fantastic," said Jane of Jim. "He was patient - he did it all except Joni who designed the kitchen."

What stands now is a 2,500-square foot, two bedroom townhome, spanning three levels.

A cohesive, cottage feel runs through the home from top to bottom, furthered by the extensive use of beadboard, which can be found in every room.

"The beadboard - I knew I wanted that," said Jesse. "Jane wanted modern and we worked that in; of course the nautical theme - we have teak floors and teak throughout."

Up a few steps in the entry of the home finds a foyer, complete with a combination beadboard bench and shoe cubby. A blue and white striped, upholstered bench seat sets the nautical tone for the home.

Furthering this feel are the three recessed niches above the foyer, containing model sailboats and each illuminated by their own recessed light.

Up a few more steps finds the open living and dining rooms, as well as kitchen.

In the living and dining rooms, the bottom walls are done in white beadboard. Above are walls in taupe, accompanied by white crown molding.

The wide plank teak flooring is magnificent and doesn't, in the slightest, show wear, tear or markings from doggy nails.

The tall, square dining table is a nice fit for the space and a great acquisition from the Navy Exchange online site.

In the living room, two loveseats upholstered in toile and accompanied by a white coffee table with wicker baskets below, lends a casual, cottage vibe.

The kitchen is where the nautical theme really takes sail.

"The counter - Joni suggested this," said Jesse, explaining how the curved breakfast bar is topped with a teak rail, trimmed in stainless steel to create the look of a sail upon a mast and boom.

The teak was leftover from the flooring and cut in strips to allow for the curve.

Because a sailboat belongs in the water, Silestone countertops in sapphire blue with metallic fleck completes the vision.

White beadboard below the breakfast bar, cabinets in white, stainless steel appliances, pendant lights and cobalt blue accents in the backsplash tile ties it all together.

A built-in beverage center below the far end of the counter offers temperature controlled storage of wine, soda and beer. The built-in Miele coffee/espresso machine is a great space saver.

"We love to cook and we love to entertain," said Jane. "It's a great kitchen to work in, with both of us cooking - it's fun for entertaining."

Another highlight is the induction cooktop.

"Personally, I think it's better than gas," said Jane.

At the far end of the room, a window seat, which can be covered with a custom tabletop, allows for more space for buffet-style entertaining.

Returning towards the entrance of the home, what had been the dining room is used as an office. Lower walls are done in a white beadboard with upper walls contrasting in a deep, rich red. Plantation shutters in stark white are used here and throughout the home.

An interior window, trimmed in leftover teak, looks to the staircase and allows for good light flow in both spaces.

Upstairs the master bedroom and guest room are both done in nautical blue on upper walls, below which finds white beadboard.

"I'm not a fan of beds in windows, but it helps make the room a whole lot bigger," said Jane, of the placement of the beds in both rooms.

The couple shared another secret with all the paint colors Jane selected.

"The ceiling is always the lowest color of the palette because it sets off the crown molding," explained Jesse.

Downstairs, a finished basement is entertainment central. Here beadboard in cherry veneer with solid cherry trim, leather furniture, faux finish paint on upper walls give a great Irish pub feel.

A third bedroom was converted into a full and stunning bar, handcrafted in leftover teak by Home Professionals and featuring a propane fireplace at eye level.

"I thought why not add some heat and give us a focal point at the bar," said Jesse.

The ledge above the beadboard and around the bar area is purposely lower and wider than what is found in the rest of the home.

"You sit here and you can do that," said Jesse, demonstrating the ledge is at the perfect height and width to rest a glass.

A big screen TV in a cabinet, which all other wood was stained to match, makes for the perfect football watching space.

A full bathroom features saloon door access to the toilet.

This is a home with major wow factor - not just in one or two rooms, but all, including bathrooms.

The contractor agrees, too.

"I would easily say it's probably the most beautiful project I've ever done, due to the good taste of the customer and it's a place where my carpenters could really shine with their abilities," said Jim. And to think, it might not have happened had it not been for Isabel.

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Donna L. Cole is a freelance writer living in the Annapolis area. If you'd like your home considered for "Home of the Week" (we'd like to feature smaller homes, condos and townhouses, too), please contact her at writerdle@aol.com.