At first, builder Mark Conforte wasn’t sure he wanted to build houses anymore. He’d been working for five decades; it felt like time to retire. “We got his name from a friend with a house on Horseshoe Pond,” says one … Continue reading →

Some of the best design is born out of constraints. So when architects Sara L’Espérance and Michael Putman of Nova Scotia−based studio SUPRBLK were tasked with conceiving a new structure to accompany a summer residence in Biddeford Pool, they used … Continue reading →

When Elisa Castillo and Rob Solomon bought their East Boothbay property in 2019, the 15-acre parcel had sat on the market for a year. It was densely wooded, covered with scrubby growth, and run through with ledges that threatened to … Continue reading →

Jorge Arango is in the kitchen, stirring a pot of richly scented soup, when I arrive at his Portland apartment. This in itself is unusual. Homeowners don’t often feed me when I come for tours, but Arango is different from … Continue reading →

This is not your typical oceanfront home. The decor is not in seaside hues, nor is the upholstery striped. There are no nautical flags on the pillows. Placid harbor scenes in watercolors, and violent crashing ocean waves in oils are … Continue reading →

Beginning in the 1910s, many popular publications peddled “ready-cut” kit homes tailor-made for the American dream. Emblematic of American ingenuity at its best, these homes were economical, ordered by mail, and conveyed in boxcars across the land to first-home buyers … Continue reading →

Renovations can often be complicated, with endless possibilities that require expert problem-solving and patience. But when the finished product hits that sweet spot of respecting the structure’s history while showcasing the homeowners’ personality, the reward far outweighs any temporary discomfort. … Continue reading →

Residential Folly Cove Principal Nicola Manganello of Nicola’s Home believes the landscape is an integral part of a project’s overall design, so she designed both this waterfront spec house and its landscape simultaneously. The goal was to create a family-friendly … Continue reading →

On winter weekends, Erica and Randall Palm rise in time to take the day’s first lift up Mount Abram. After a few runs, the couple return home to make breakfast for their three sons and, often, Erica’s mom and her … Continue reading →