Peek Inside This New-Build Farmhouse That Looks Centuries Old
These Maryland homeowners share their secrets for giving a new home old house charm.
When Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis decided to trade life on Capitol Hill for the Maryland countryside, the old-house enthusiasts hoped they’d be swapping their urban townhouse for a 100-year-old fixer-upper. But, after looking around, the co-owners of D.C.-based Amaryllis Floral & Event Design were quickly discouraged. “Most of them were money pits,” says Rick. “They came with a major list of problems—rotting timbers, bad wiring, or they were caving in. We were struggling with balancing the demands of our business and taking on a lifetime of problems at home.” So, they pivoted and teamed up with Rick’s brother, Wayne, who happens to be a builder at Wayne Davis Construction, and together they crafted a good old-fashioned saltbox on 27 picturesque acres in Maryland. “We kept the architecture simple because we collect antique everything,” says Christopher. “We just didn’t want the headaches that come with those old bones.”
Then, here's how they gave the new home an age-old look:
Colonial Architecture
Dating back to 1600s New England, steeply sloped saltbox-style architecture gets its name for its resemblance to an old lidded salt box. (From the front, there are two stories; from the back, only one.) The door hails from a circa- 1800s Pennsylvania farmhouse. “It’s so old that it doesn’t hold paint. Every year, we have to apply another coat,” says Christopher. His plant-whatever-grows approach to gardening makes for landscaping rich with color, texture, and movement.
Salvaged Architecture
Salvaged architectural details like old columns, beams, gates, and barn louvers add soul to the home. In the entry, a rustic beam—reclaimed from an old log cabin by Cochran's Lumber—is now a shelf showcasing vintage vessels.
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Reclaimed Flooring
Nothing beats the patina of old floors! The couple added reclaimed flooring in random widths (here, up to 17 inches) laid with old nails.
“Brick” Floors, Soapstone Countertops
While the couple wanted brick floors, the above-the-basement kitchen didn’t offer enough structural support, so they opted for less weighty “Chicago” brick-style tiles. Multiple high-contrast moments—soapstone countertops against warm white cabinets by Miller Cabinetry, wooden millwork atop sage green walls—help the room feel layered. The old English concrete slop sink found at Housewerks Salvage in Baltimore is dyed an eye-catching oxblood, and the makeshift “island”—an old farm table—comes in handy when entertaining (and provides shelter for German shorthaired pointer Hannah). The Bertazzoni Heritage range is inspired by an 1900s-era stove; the modern fridge is concealed in coordinating cabinetry and “Lugarno” hardware.
Fieldstone Fireplace
Inspired by a room in a Ralph Lauren catalog, Christopher and Rick decided to add a fieldstone surround/wall/ledge sourced primarily from Pennsylvania and Maryland. “My parents picked up stones everywhere, so it’s very sentimental to me,” says Rick. Another reclaimed log cabin beam serves as the mantel, which is topped with an antique iron gate, antlers, and crockery. Rick fills a variety of vessels—including the stone urn perched atop an antique column—with an ever-changing array of flowers from the garden. Exposed oak beams and reclaimed shelving (also from Cochran's Lumber) add storied charm.
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Mismatched Furniture, Candlelight
Rick inherited a set of dining furniture from his mother. To help the home feel more collected and less coordinating, the couple split up the set, pairing her eight chairs with a 10-foot-long teak table and employing the table as a desk in the study. More of the couple’s estate sale-sourced Audubon prints adorn the walls above an old Chinese sideboard topped with concrete head-of-ram shaped urns and stoneware. Greenery and flowers freshen up a centerpiece of antique candlesticks and apothecary bottles. A metal chandelier with votives for tea candles provides old-world ambience for dinner parties. “Everyone loves the way the room glows,” says Christopher.
Antique Collections
An antique desk—marked with 1870s election returns—is home to a pristine preserved typewriter, duck decoys, cigar boxes, and ample apothecary jars.
Spool Bed, Timeless Rugs
An antique spool bed— reconfigured to accommodate a modern-day mattress—is flanked by two antique side tables. A framed rooster hooked rug proudly graces the wall, while a classic braided rug warms up the plank floors.
One-of-a-Kind Artwork
On the opposite wall, a Windsor chair sits beside treasures like an old top hat and assorted artwork.
Reclaimed Urn Sink
Serving as a dramatic focal point in the master bathroom, an antique garden urn is cleverly outfitted inside with a standard bowl sink from Lowe’s. “It fits perfectly, but I had a hard time finding it,” says Christopher, noting he has two more of the same sink in the basement “just in case!” A mirror with a sweet hand-painted flourish is a nod to the collection of floral artwork—needlepoints, prints, and paintings—just outside. “We like the look of an original frame,” says Christopher. The dramatic blue walls offset the softer floral hues and the antique lantern, which formerly hung in a church.
Meet the Homeowners
Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis on their 27-acre farm.
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