Hot House: 1753 Banbury Road, Gibson Island, MD 21056

Contemporary international style house in glass, stone, and Hardiplank, circa 2007.

Four bedrooms, five full and two half baths, over 5,889 sq. ft. plus finished lower level.  Indoor heated swimming pool, walls of glass and walk-out living area with views of the Chesapeake, screened porch, four fireplaces.  Chef’s kitchen opens to great room. Luxury master suite, guest suites, and baths. Teak and mahogany floors and ceilings. Top grade materials, craftsmanship, and systems, three-car garage, one-acre property: $4,995,000

What: One of the priciest properties ever to be sold on Gibson Island, the most expensive zip code in Maryland, where real estate has gone through the roof in the past decade. There is a lot to recommend it, including the fact that it is luxurious but not formal, lavish but still jauntily suited to the easygoing nautical ways of Gibson Island. Some of the interior spaces are pretty spectacular — the three-story oval staircase, the mahogany-over-steel beam ceilings which subtly reference the hull of a ship, stand out. The master suite is a dream, with water views, a raised-hearth stone fireplace, closet dressing room, and high mahogany ceilings. The master bath has a glamorous, if somewhat intimidating, oval marble tub mounted on a wooden platform, a separate glass shower room with marble bench and round porthole window to watch your ship come in.

Where: A prominent position at the entrance to the island, and adjacent to the Gibson Island Club (membership by invitation only).  A wide green lawn backing to trees extends a long way to Banbury Road. There are only 200 other houses (and 600 other people) on the island, a security gate manned 24/7, and a policy that visitors must be invited  — all of which ensures that privacy will be respected. Lately, there has been an influx of well-off young families from DC. It’s close to Annapolis, and an easy distance from both DC and Baltimore. And best of all, you can get there without crossing the feared Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Why: Impressive house in a majestic setting. Good lawn for a ride-on-mower guy.

Why Not: A little show-offy. Not as close to the water as some buyers may want.

Would Suit: Captain of the ship.

NB: Cats are banned on Gibson Island, which is a bird sanctuary.  Possibly a service cat …