This Week's Find: A Maryland Estate With Its Own Diner

• May 12th 2021

by Nena Perry-Brown

A (likely) former plantation in Germantown, This Week's Find is now a mash-up of the Victorian era and the 1950s.

The nearly-seven-acre property was a 19th century farm that was built out over the years, including the house with its two-I-wing configuration. The state of Maryland purchased the property in the 1970s, and it was used intermittently with periods of vacancy until it was put up for auction in 1983. The woman who won it at auction worked to restore it before selling it to the current owners, Bonnie and David Warfield.

Over the past 17 years, the Warfields continued to restore and personalize it. Bonnie is a fan and student of Victorian design and has not only curated the furnishings and finishes from the era that are seen around the property, but also designed the wallpaper using Victorian patterns.

David comes from a line of Chevrolet dealers and collects cars from the 1950s and 1960s. He keeps these vehicles in a temperature-controlled, eight-bay garage, but it is what is above the garage that might be the most unique aspect of the home: the space was built out to look just like a diner from 70 years ago. The property also includes a restored "corn crib" (originally used to store corn), another out-building converted for use as a "she shed", and a koi pond with waterfall.  

Interior finishings include pocket doors, ceiling medallions, moldings, Victorian plumbing fixtures, and ornate fireplace surrounds. The tin press ceiling in the kitchen has been restored, and the room also includes a decorative stone fireplace and a built-in U-shaped banquette. 

The smoke house original to the property is now used to house the generator, and the property also has a pergola and a second, two-car garage. Because the property is on the Historic Register, both the state and the county offer incentives for the home's maintenance.

The property goes on the market tomorrow and can be purchased with furnishings included. Additional details and pictures are below.

• Full Listing: 17200 Riffle Ford Road (map)
• Price: $1.25 million
• Bedrooms: Three
• Bathrooms: Four
• Square Feet: 3,725
• Year Built: 1850
• Listing Agents: Meredith Margolis, Molly Peters, Compass

Photos courtesy of Magin Urdanick. 

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/this-weeks-find-a-maryland-estate-with-its-own-diner/18251.