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Houzz Tour: A Penobscot Bay Renovation
Second home provides a spot for family gatherings and new hobbies
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
After retiring, my aunt and uncle decided they wanted to spend a lot of their newfound free time on this lobstering island in Mid-Coast Maine. My uncle's family has been visiting the island for three generations, and as a couple they had been vacationing on here since they were first married. Ready to invest in a second home, they embarked on an extended search. While this home was not exactly winterized and had very few coastal views, they fell in love with a piece of property around it — on the water and surrounded by magical, mossy woods.
They bought the property and enlisted contractor Jon Levenseler to winterize the house, open the rooms and add windows to maximize views and let in the light. In addition, the house has inspired new hobbies of gardening, scouting for antiques, boating — and provides new inspiration for a lifelong photography hobby.
They bought the property and enlisted contractor Jon Levenseler to winterize the house, open the rooms and add windows to maximize views and let in the light. In addition, the house has inspired new hobbies of gardening, scouting for antiques, boating — and provides new inspiration for a lifelong photography hobby.
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The gambrel-roofed house was originally made up of a disjointed and disconnected house and addition. The renovations created continuity throughout the house.
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| An old floating dock now serves as a deck to the entryway. A clematis vine covers part of the railing, and a bench provides a spot to remove swimming shoes before going inside. |
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An antique cabinet and a photo of my uncle as a young boy fishing with his grandfather on the island are the first thing one sees when entering the house.
The lamp is made of local rock and can be purchased through The Island Institute. It brings a piece of the rocky coast into the house.
The lamp is made of local rock and can be purchased through The Island Institute. It brings a piece of the rocky coast into the house.
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The eat-in kitchen has expansive views of the garden and magic woods. The sea lavender in the centerpiece as picked locally. Having spent many years living in Hong Kong and the Philippines, oriental rugs are a favorite choice for the couple.
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| An antique farmhouse table is a good spot for favorite antique finds. Using new skills honed at the Maine Media Workshop, my uncle played around with favorite photos of himself and aunt from when they first met and hung them here. |
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| A wooden bowl full of rocks found on the property adds to the tablescape. |
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| A large open room includes a dining area and a living room that enjoy views of the coast and the warmth of a wood stove. The previous owners were not fans of water views, so part of the renovation included adding a lot of windows. The end tables came from The Prison Shop in nearby Thomaston (the prison is no longer there, but the shop still is). The kilim pillow on the chair came from Etsy seller sukan. |
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| A dresser scarf and glass lamp passed down through the family join cork floats and a bowl full of sand dollars. |
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| The bowl is by local potter Tony Oliveri, and the sand dollars were collected on an island across the channel. |
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Since buying the house, my aunt has discovered a love of hunting for antiques locally. She refinished many of the pieces around the house.
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| A master suite upstairs provides a comfortable sitting area with great views of the harbor. |
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| Glass lanterns and abedroom set passed down through the family, as well as more of my uncle's photographs, furnish the bedroom. |
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| The guest room has an iron bed and two spool side tables that received a fresh coat of white paint. My uncle took the black-and-white photos on the island when he was in his twenties. |
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More photos of nearby buildings hang in the guestroom, along with an antique rocking chair.
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The old nautical chart of the region helps the two plan their boat trips.
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Marimekko sheets, colorful quilts, a rag rug and nautical sconces brighten up the room meant for grandchildren.
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Comfy Adirondack chairs offer a view across the gardens.
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| Here is that view. Beautiful gardens planted by the former owners have stirred a passion for gardening in the couple. |
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The view from the deck, living room, family room and master suite. A skiff moored off the rocks provides access to the islands in the channel.
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| Wooden buoys decorate a bridge on the property. |
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| The side yard is a great spot for enjoying fresh local lobsters. |
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| Large boulders dot the property and woods.They become so covered in moss that trees and smaller plants grow out of them. These woods are filled with rare lady slippers and fairy houses. In fact, this is where I took pictures for this fairy house ideabook. More inspiration: Postcard from Maine Rustic Chic Modern Cabin Decor Cozy Cabin Decor |
Comments
bepsf Such a cozy and homey cottage - Thanks for sharing!
21 months ago · Like
Rough Linen Perfection - a magical family-oriented house. I hope your aunt and uncle are happy there for many years to come!
21 months ago · Like
Linda Hartong Thank them for sharing their home with us. Charming.
21 months ago · Like
Casart Coverings A wonderful, tranquil get-away. Where are the fairy houses, Becky? I kept waiting to see one in an outdoor picture. You'll have to build one next time you visit.
21 months ago · Like
Becky Harris Hi Casart! There's a whole idea book of them, just click on the green link where it says "fairy houses." By the way, was that your headboard decal I saw in Country Living this week?
21 months ago · Like
Sharon Chapman One gets a warm wonderful feeling here. Thanks for sharing this with us.
21 months ago · Like
lothatch Simple and beautiful.
21 months ago · Like
Monique Prevost As someone who is from & currently lives in Mid-Coast Maine, I was totally excited to see this ideabook today! Love it! :)
21 months ago · Like
patscats2 What a charming and cozy house.
21 months ago · Like
10wildacres The guest bedroom upstairs with the simple bed and the blue walls just glowed. I loved the feel of that room...simple and glowing! Enjoy...
21 months ago · Like
anneadam I'm also from Mid-Coast Maine and think that your aunt and uncle hit the Maine coast style spot-on!
21 months ago · Like
Stefanie OLsen Well done...not overdone with stuff! The treasures are displayed perfectly. Such a relaxing home!
21 months ago · Like
mselden I love everything about this. I especially love the wooden buoys on the bridge!
21 months ago · Like
iambeau I'm very attracted to this home....lovely decorative touches, sleek renovations and lots of light! Very inspired!
8 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Sept. 27, 2011.
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