Daniel Smith always wanted to return to Maine. He dreamed of living on the very same piece of forested land where he spent his childhood. “We had a house here, but it wasn’t near the lake,” he explains. “When I … Continue reading →

There’s an important truth that just about any designer, craftsperson, or artist will tell you: Simple is not easy. The most pure, most functional, most stripped-down version of a form might look plain and modest when finished, but that clean … Continue reading →

When the pandemic struck, Eric and Sarah Olivares of Yarmouth decided they’d isolate in a series of rentals to socially distance their young family during the summer of 2020 (their two sons and daughter now range between 3 and 15 … Continue reading →

Few places in Maine are more memorable—or more often photographed—than the jutting granite cliffs, tall pine forests, and sea-worn boulders of Acadia National Park. Otter Creek, located outside the bustle of downtown Bar Harbor and abutting the park, is a … Continue reading →

Lilse McKenna loves a good research project. Digging into historic archives for inspiration is her thing. The findings help tie the interiors she designs to a building’s architecture and establish a sense of time and place. That said, McKenna’s schemes … Continue reading →

The homeowner was clear with architect Paul Attardo of Attardo Architecture and Design from the start: he didn’t want a McMansion. The coastal property, located near Reid State Park in Georgetown, had been in his family for years, but the … Continue reading →

Personal connections to coastal Maine are rarely based on a house alone. The sense of belonging goes far deeper than that. To the family who has gathered on this site for more than 40 years, the Atlantic coast is a … Continue reading →

“Our goal was to re-create a functional family cottage in this historic beach community. We designed a clean and simple Craftsman-style home with room for family to gather and relax. Cedar shingles and wood decks honor the traditional summer cottages … Continue reading →

On Thanksgiving weekend in 2018, a couple suggested to their children, who were home from college, that they all take a ride down to Higgins Beach. A stone’s throw from the ocean, where the neighborhood runs into a tidal marsh, … Continue reading →

Synergy is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (such as resources or efforts).” While the concept is often referenced in corporate mergers, it is equally applicable to home design and … Continue reading →