Room of the Day: A Maine Guest Cottage Steeped in Charm
Once offering eggs for sale, this little guesthouse now offers a serene experience in a refined rustic setting
Fred Albert
February 12, 2014
Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites and magazines, including Houzz, Metropolitan Home, House Beautiful and Style 1900.
Houzz Contributor. Fred has written about architecture and design for many Web sites... More
Before Gail Landry bought Flanagan Farm in 2011, the local fire department was planning to burn the place down as a training exercise. But Landry intervened and transformed the Buxton, Maine, property into a rural haven steeped in contemporary country charm.
Photography by Brea McDonald
Photography by Brea McDonald
Landry turned this old 9- by 12-foot shed, once used for selling eggs, into a guesthouse.
The initial problem: The shed was hidden in a thicket of brambles, and the interior was filled with so much junk, you could barely get through the door. Undaunted, Landry cleared the brush and cleaned out the shed, then turned it over to interior designers David Nastasi and Kate Vail of Nastasi Vail Design in Brooklyn, New York.
The initial problem: The shed was hidden in a thicket of brambles, and the interior was filled with so much junk, you could barely get through the door. Undaunted, Landry cleared the brush and cleaned out the shed, then turned it over to interior designers David Nastasi and Kate Vail of Nastasi Vail Design in Brooklyn, New York.
AFTER: “Gail wanted it to be like a men’s guest cottage,” says Nastasi. He had the interior power-washed to remove all the old paint, dirt and bat guano, then replaced the failing windows, painted the exterior siding and added new trim.
The designers had the interior sprayed with diluted white paint from top to bottom to approximate the look of whitewash. “We wanted to keep it rough and rustic, and to let the wood and grain show through,” says Nastasi.
New pine floors were paired with a spare selection of designer furnishings, for a look that suggests old family pieces collected over time.
Headboad: Phillips Scott; bedding: John Robshaw; shades: Hunter Douglas
New pine floors were paired with a spare selection of designer furnishings, for a look that suggests old family pieces collected over time.
Headboad: Phillips Scott; bedding: John Robshaw; shades: Hunter Douglas
The pale wood walls are a perfect foil for a linen-covered wing chair Landry already owned. The bed and chair face a field that’s so bucolic, Nastasi says, it’s easy to forget where you are. “It’s a very peaceful place to stay,” he notes. Landry uses the property as a personal retreat and also rents it out for weddings.
The bronze and granite tables flanking the bed are from Global Views. They’re topped with custom lamps designed by Nostalgia Lighting.
A mirror from Jamie Young hangs over a Sarreid chest in the corner. The pairing of rustic and refined gives the guesthouse character, assuring a memorable stay for all.
More: Previous Room of the Day
More: Previous Room of the Day
Related Stories
Laundry Rooms
Loads of Function in a Classic Black-and-White Laundry Room
By Becky Harris
A designer incorporates expansive storage, a drying rod, a generous sink and a counter for folding
Full Story
Bedrooms
Soothing Whites and Grays Create a Refreshing Master Bedroom
Strategic changes help a California master bedroom go from dark and heavy to light and bright
Full Story
Basements
A Light, Bright Basement Inspired by Midcentury Design
By Becky Harris
Designers create an organic and airy feel in this underground space in Toronto
Full Story
Living Rooms
A Sliding Door Hides the TV in This Attractive Living Room
By Erin Carlyle
See how a designer transforms the barn door concept using walnut veneer and modern styling over a fireplace
Full Story
Before and Afters
100-Year-Old Craftsman Home’s Master Suite Lightens Up
A designer balances architectural preservation with contemporary living in this Northern California remodel
Full Story
Bedrooms
Warm, Minimalist Style for a Master Suite in Oregon
By Becky Harris
Garden views, built-in storage and nods to Japanese design contribute to a calm and beautiful retreat
Full Story
Landscape Design
Relaxed Courtyard Celebrates Indoor-Outdoor Living
Sliding glass walls open up to connect the living spaces in this Southern California retreat
Full Story
Laundry Rooms
A Warm and Bright Laundry Room to Welcome a Family Home
See the inviting vibe a designer created for this renovated Minneapolis room off the garage
Full Story
Kids’ Spaces
Nods to Nature and ‘Star Wars’ in 2 Boys’ Bedrooms and Bath
Bold color, graphic patterns and custom murals create a kids’ zone designed to grow up with brothers in Utah
Full Story
Living Rooms
Sand and Surf Inspire Look of New Great Room With Pacific Views
A designer renovates a coastal California living space to highlight its amazing views and create a chic beach vibe
Full Story
I am amused by all the "southerners" commenting on the lack of insulation and limited usability of the guest house. I have an off grid cottage 5 hours north of Toronto, water access only island. The cottage (and guest bunkie much like this one) is accessible only after the ice melts on the lake, usually by early May. Last winter the ice went out on May 20th. There is a wood stove in the cottage, but no real insulation in any structure. No indoor bathroom. It is not unusual for us to be wearing parkas in June, and it has been 8 degrees C. in August. This guest house is like a cottage in Miami compared to what we hardy Canadians are used to.
I also live in Maine and believe me, everyone wants to visit in the summer. This is a perfect summer guest room. Coastal Maine is rarely humid and it cools down 20 degrees at night. This would be a comfortable, lovely place for family friends from May to October.