Five years in the making, Boxwood Manor proves Bryan LeCompte’s devotion to his Eastern Shore roots
Bryan LeCompte estimates he’s planted one million boxwoods—that’s right, million—during his nearly 40-year career as the founder and visionary of Yard Designs, Inc., one of the premier interior/exterior design-build companies on the Eastern Shore. We’d all agree that qualifies him as an authority on the classic evergreen shrubs English colonists brought to North America in the 17th century. Known for their dense foliage and climate versatility, boxwoods have long served as enduring symbols of elegance and prominence—distinctions Bryan has thoughtfully and purposely incorporated into countless projects.
Similarly versatile are Bryan’s talents for landscape design and interior design—a rare combination that provides a blank canvas for his creativity and a meaningful mission for the selections he chooses for each property, both inside and out. Bryan’s passion project in Berlin, Maryland—appropriately named Boxwood Manor—is a residence that reflects his deep appreciation for the town’s history, his flair for intentional design and details executed with precision, and a touching tribute to the unbreakable connection to his mother. The result is a home that collectively feels like a local museum and an unpretentious five-star inn, where beauty and comfort coexist effortlessly.
Bryan & Whitnie LeCompte
Evolving Project
The site of Boxwood Manor, 300 Bay Street, is a stone’s throw from historic Main Street. Mark and Laura Stearns thought it was the ideal location to build a modern two-story farmhouse inspired by a property built in 1903 on nearby Washington Street. The couple lovingly completed the project and subsequently listed the unfurnished residence to maximize the return on their investment.
“I have always wanted to refurbish a home in Berlin. When I saw it being framed, it caught my eye,” Bryan reflects. “When the opportunity to purchase it presented itself, it was perfect because it offered a vintage farmhouse but did not possess all the challenges that accompany a home of that period. I knew I could pay homage to Berlin here.”
After acquiring the property, Bryan began executing his vision—a process that started in 2020 and took five years to complete. One of the first enhancements was the addition of a ground-floor primary suite conceived for an aging-in-place lifestyle.
Home renovation projects are traditionally about speed and efficiency in order to meet a deadline; Boxwood Manor was the exact opposite. Each singular decision Bryan made methodically advanced the project. Every element of the home was intentional, from the period antiques to the commissioned paintings by local artists Patrick Henry, Kirk McBride and Petra Bernstein, to the sawtooth porch arches and the pattern of bricks laid along the sidewalks, driveway and outdoor entertaining areas.
“If any portion of a space isn’t complete, I think about it until it is—and that might take years because I haven’t found the right piece or components to end its story,” Bryan says. “This is my mentality for every room, and this philosophy extends floor by floor and to each aspect of the exterior and landscape as well.”
landscape as well.”
A Loving Tribute
Dating back to his youth, Bryan has had an affinity for design, particularly influenced by his mother’s love of refined antiques. He fondly recalls accompanying her on trips to auctions and antique stores across the Shore, and he vividly remembers her discerning eye for unique discoveries and her shrewd negotiating tactics. Boxwood Manor contains several of her most important pieces, including Norman Rockwellesque portrayals of American life in collector plates prominently displayed in the kitchen.
“A lot of her pieces that are very valuable and personal to me are here,” he says. “They contribute to the joy I feel in this home and to the overall design of the residence as well.”
First and foremost, Bryan attributes his design abilities to his God Almighty. As a youth, he recalls using every resource available to fuel his curiosity for design.
“I learned through magazines, books, encyclopedias and documentaries that discussed interior design concepts,” he says. “I would study history and styles and learn how to outfit any room.”
Detail Oriented
It’s in Bryan’s nature to obsess over details. It’s a trait that he credits for the success of Yard Designs, Inc.—success which has allowed him the opportunity to contribute his time and talents to major philanthropic endeavors for the TidalHealth Foundation and Salisbury University, among others.
Details flourish at Boxwood Manor within its theme heavily influenced by land and sea, and elevated amenities blend seamlessly with history and tradition. Each of the residence’s bedrooms is named for a different species of boxwood, such as English, American, Green Velvet and Winter Gem. Bryan used hickory and oak wood flooring throughout, with marble gracing the bathrooms. Custom wallpaper and curated furniture and rugs fill the residence. Handcrafted Amish beds made of walnut, hickory and cherry, period-appropriate ship’s wheels and paddles, and tiger-maple dressers and chests of drawers, for example, provide striking visual interest from room to room. Finishing touches include Boxwood Manor-engraved Bibles, robes and hangers.
Beauty Inside and Out
Berlin is well known for its stately, well-manicured residences, particularly within its historical district. Boxwood Manor adds significance and charm to this collection and leaves an indelible impression on residents and visitors alike.
In designing its elaborate gardens and outdoor living spaces, Bryan honored elegant estates of the town’s past by including symbolic themes such as the sawtooth porch arches. Such details are reminiscent of late-1800s motifs found in other prominent Berlin buildings, such as Burley Manor, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Burley Cottage, documented as part of The Garden Club of America collection at the Smithsonian.
Elsewhere, the property’s theme is echoed through boxwood cut-outs in custom fence pickets, stair risers, mahogany shutters and even a themed flag and flagpole. Beyond public view lies intimate entertaining spaces, including a spacious seating area behind the home that features a handsome brick fireplace complete with custom powder-coated wood holders in the shape of boxwoods on each side. Even the fireplace grate contains boxwood imagery.
Boxwood Manor’s separate gabled-roof carriage house, conceived and built by Bryan, contains two levels that captivate interest for different reasons. On the first level, commissioned artwork and significant antiques adorn an elegant meeting space. On the second, an intimate guest retreat awaits. Its diminutive footprint is maximized through its welcoming bedroom, intimate seating area and magnificent marble bathroom. The ceilings on both levels are painted boxwood green in color.
Looking down from the second-level deck, it becomes apparent that a second seating area containing a large fire cauldron surrounded by Adirondack chairs forms the shape of a boxwood.
Bryan lives a fast-paced life, yet he notes that when he’s at Boxwood Manor, time slows down. Here, in a residence that reveals his affinity for Berlin, his passion for design and his love for his mother, he’s at peace.
“When I am here, it’s joyful,” Bryan says. “I am captured in the moment. The evolution of this property has been a journey. I feel it’s a reflection
of my journey through this world.” CS
“The evolution of this of property has been a journey. I feel it is a reflection of my journey through this world.”
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