A Brighter Gothic

"Many residents here are patients of mine," Woodward laughed.

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Making a dream home

Dream element:: The Victorian home of Brooks Woodward and Riess Livaudais is in historic Dickeyville, a small hamlet in northwestern Baltimore founded in 1772 as a mill town. Its 130 restored houses, a few businesses (including an Odd Fellows Hall) and a tiny church all rest in a wooded, picturesque setting, reminiscent of a vintage train garden.

Design inspiration:: The chosen decor for the home's three stories is eclectic, focusing on the contemporary but with a few choice antique pieces. Every piece of furniture takes into account the scale of the rooms in this 1,800-square-foot home.

Surprise feature:: Because the house backs directly into a hillside, the rear of the first level is underground. It is not until guests climb the first of two staircases that they discover a beautifully landscaped backyard and patio beyond a door situated at the second floor landing.