Designer Stephanie Bradshaw's Maryland Home Was Inspired by Nature
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Located just north of Baltimore, designer Stephanie Bradshaw’s Sparks, Maryland home is known as Wood Pines, after the countless trees that line the property. But the home, now a woodsy idyll, almost didn't happen.
As self-proclaimed lovers of nature, Bradshaw and her husband, Brett Bernard, a general contractor and builder, were planning on moving to Colorado, to escape city life and find an expansive plot of land where they could raise their son, Dallas. Just as they were about to make the big move to the Centennial State, though, a friend informed the couple of a nearby lot of more than one acre that was about to hit the market. Almost instantly, the designer-and-builder duo hopped on their four wheelers and headed through the woods, where they fell in love with this property—so much so that they purchased it the very next day, before it could even hit the market.
A few days after buying what would become a scenic sanctuary, Bradshaw and Bernard were eating at a local diner when they started sketching the Sparks, Maryland home they live in—and love—today.
Naturally, the interior design of this dwelling was done by Bradshaw, while the styling was the work of Giulietta Pinna. Bradshaw and Bernard enlisted the help of their friend, architect Chester Bartels, to tackle the structural aspect of the abode’s design.
To truly bring this modern mountain-style home to life, Bradshaw and her team sought to bring the outside in, even incorporating a woodland theme in her son’s room. Built from the ground up, this picture-perfect oasis took just under a year to complete, beginning in May of 2019 and wrapping up mere days before the pandemic shutdown in March of 2020.
Take a look at the spectacular haven below.
Kitchen Nook
For a wall-to-ceiling paint job in the kitchen nook, Studio Green by Farrow & Ball was enlisted, as a way to make this space “feel cozy and intimate,” says Bradshaw. “We eat the majority of our family meals here, and it looks out over the front garden.” The quirky pendant light is from Currey & Co., while the cane back chairs are from CB2, and the artwork is by Kristen Scotto. And that adorable custom bench seat? Schumacher, with pillows in fabrics from Mokum and Cowtan & Tout.
Foyer
The inky blue artwork in the modern-yet-bohemian foyer was created by artist Kristen Marie, in a shade that Bradshaw especially loves: indigo. The standout pendant light is by Circa Lighting, and the Persian rug is a vintage find from a trip Bradshaw took to Santa Barbara a few years ago.
The Great Room
The inspiration behind the great room, says Bradshaw, was the view made possible by the massive windows. “When I selected the art for this space—done by artist Kristen Giorgi—I wanted something strong but something that didn’t compete with the view, and this piece really sang to me,” Bradshaw tells House Beautiful, in reference to the blue-and-yellow artwork that faces the fireplace. The sofa is from Lee Industries and its fabric is custom, done by Pierre Frey. As for the many pillows that grace the furniture of the Great Room, those fabrics are from Schumacher, Kravet, and Mokum. And for a bit of pizzazz, a handmade guitar by Bradshaw Guitars hangs on the wall near the couch.
Owner's Suite
Inspired by the “small grove of trees outside” the window of the owner’s suite, Bradshaw turned to fabrics with “really soft and calm neutral tones” to design this space. Come springtime, the designer and her family enjoy watching a cherry tree blossom right outside the window, where the local birds often flock to. “My grandmother loved birdwatching, so it reminds me of her,” says Bradshaw. With the goal of making this part of the house feel like a Four Seasons hotel—“but at home,” adds the designer—a modern, cozy approach was taken. The king-sized bed and throw blanket are both from RH, while the artwork is by Senta Clarke, and the pillows are by John Robshaw and Kerry Joyce.
Entertainment Room
Although you would never be able to tell just from looking at it, the entertainment room in Bradshaw’s beautifully decorated home is actually located in the basement—“but it doesn’t feel like a basement at all,” proclaims the designer. For the dark look of this room—which is “perfect for movie nights,” adds Bradshaw—Farrow & Ball’s Railings paint color was used. To balance out this soft-black-with-blue-undertones shade, light-colored furnishings and decor were brought in, making for an airy and inviting space. A vintage Moroccan rug, drapes by John Robshaw, and custom shibori (a Japanese tie-dying technique) pillows made this vision possible.
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