In this new annual section of MH+D, we celebrate the landscape designers who are shaping our state’s outdoor spaces with intention and artistry. The magazine received many submissions, and we have selected the 12 projects we feel reflect a deep respect for place—where native plants thrive, salvaged materials are given new life, and even waste stone becomes sculpture. From a dry-laid granite hardscape carefully composed within Bar Harbor’s shoreline setbacks to a striking retaining wall built from long-idle quarry blocks, these landscapes are rooted in resourcefulness, beauty, and a true sense of home.

Bear Rock

Outdoor living room: A place to relax, entertain, and enjoy the ocean

Acadia Landscape and Design designed and built an outdoor living room on a breathtaking site with stunning views of the ocean and seabirds just off Schooner Head in Bar Harbor. The site, situated on a steep slope near the existing building, presented a challenge because everything had to fit within the 75-foot shoreline setback.

A large, dry-laid granite retaining wall creates an extended, leveled-off area adjacent to the existing deck structure. Using a faux ledge technique, the designers built a natural-looking ledge retainer below the stone wall and before the shore setback. The large granite pieces used in the retaining wall were repurposed from an old local quarry and shaped to fit by skilled stonemasons.

An elongated granite patio was built to fit tables and chairs within the new outdoor space. Planting beds along the boundaries soften the edges with deer-proof native species of flowers, grasses, and lavender, while accent boulders add visual interest to the outdoor room.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Michael Gillis, Acadia Landscape + Design
LEAD STONEMASON: Leland Burnham, Acadia Landscape + Design
SITE WORK ASSISTANCE & TRUCKING: John W. Goodwin, Jr.
IRRIGATION: Williams Irrigation Systems
PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Gillis
LOCATION: Bar Harbor

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Royal River Point

A coastal residence designed to integrate with its natural surroundings

The landscape design is a key element of the project, conceived as an extension of the surrounding wilderness. Native plantings, including lowbush blueberry, hay-scented fern, bayberry, and coastal grasses stabilize the soil, support pollinators, and blend the home into its environment. Carefully placed boulders and reclaimed stone steps echo the natural geology of the site, guiding movement through the living terrace and down the slope to a private outdoor firepit that overlooks the ocean. This home is not just a retreat but a celebration of place, where modern living meets the raw beauty of nature.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Aceto Kimball Landscape Architecture
ARCHITECT: Kevin Browne Architecture
BUILDER: Warren Construction Group
ENGINEER: Albert Putnam Associates
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jeff Roberts
LOCATION: Freeport

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Chase Hill Overhaul

A prior lot turned Kennebunk magnificence

Chase Hill is known for its expansive views of the Kennebunk River. The existing home on the site was torn down and rebuilt to fit the needs of a young Miami couple who wanted to give their small children summers where they could experience the smell of the salt air, a proper garden, and everything in between. Now an oasis where they regroup in the summertime, this project has given them the space they need to escape from the city and find peace.

The design incorporates a natural bluestone front walkway, pathways, and firepit bordered by cobblestones, while the covered patio and steps leading into the house are a clean, timeless granite. The project’s original design called for a patio on the side of the house overlooking a dirt road, but the Ambidextrous team modified the plan to take advantage of scenic views of the Kennebec River.

A hedge of green giant arborvitae surrounds two sides of the property to give it a walled-in, secluded feeling. The south side of the site, a slope to a road below, has terraced boulder retaining walls, birch trees, and hydrangea that provide privacy while allowing light into the property. There are blueberry bushes for snacking, and a fenced-in herb and vegetable garden was added just outside of the kitchen. At the front of the house, tall Degroot’s spire arborvitae bring the front porch columns down into the landscape. Emerald green arborvitae were selected to cover the HVAC units, and a maple tree blocks the line of sight coming up the road to the house. Exiting the front door, the homeowners are greeted by a dogwood tree surrounded by an array of beautiful hydrangeas and peonies that provide spectacular cut flowers in early summer.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN & INSTALLATION: Ambidextrous Inc. Landscaping
ARCHITECT: Brian Beaudette Architect
BUILDER: Lovejoy and Sons
NURSERY: Cotton’s Nursery
SHUTTERS: Seacoast Rollshutter Systems
WATER FEATURE: Dirigo Aquascapes
PHOTOGRAPHER: KC Drown
LOCATION: Kennebunk

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Quarry Slag Pile

Reimagining and upgrading an old quarry

A slag pile sticking out into the cove in Stonington now is an amazing welcome mat for a multigenerational retreat for year-round gathering and water-based recreation.

This terraced landscape serves as a proof-of-concept project that embraces climate resiliency while still supporting a range of human uses and promoting site- and context-specific design. The lowest levels of the pier are armored with large granite blocks and slabs, set with wide joints and a fast-draining substrate that accommodates flooding and storms. To break up the wave energy, mixed granite blocks, pavers, and plantings were selected, allowing for easy access out to the pier and floats and back into the site. The upper areas of the site are fully planted with drifts of tough, native materials that will help filter and manage runoff from the land before it reaches the water.

Given that this was a shore restoration effort, on a small spit sitting out in an exposed cove, the designers focused on hardy natives at a few different scales. Black and white spruce (Picea mariana and glauca) and pitch pines (Pinus rigida) were woven in with red oaks (Quercus rubra) and yellow birch trees (Betula alleghaniensus) for the canopy, while a midlevel of bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica) for exposed locations and shadblow (Amelanchier canadensis) and witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) blends into the woodland edge. A ground plane of mixed green textures was chosen for their hardy mats of roots and ability to help hold and slow runoff: sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina), hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula), and huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) sods.

The wind is definitely proving to be the site’s toughest challenge, and the porcupines the most surprising! But the palette is settling and strengthening as these mostly nursery-grown materials adjust to and anchor in this unique environment.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Emma Kelly, Emma Kelly Landscape; COLLAB Landscape Collective
LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION: Atlantic Landscape Construction
ENGINEER: Andrew McCullough Civil Engineers
SITE WORK: Prock Marine
PHOTOGRAPHER: Sal Taylor Kydd
LOCATION: Coastal Maine

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Quarry Rift

Rough, raw, and recycled: a landscape paradigm shift

The clients requested a design evocative of the quarries woven throughout Maine’s landscape. At its core, the honest, imperfect, recycled design seeks to challenge the traditional landscape stereotypes: heavily tailored residential landscapes (native or non-native) and, at the other end of the spectrum, zero landscape inputs around a residence. The front hardscape surfacing consists of two different treatments and conditions. At the terminus of the entry deck/boardwalk to the front door, Freshwater Pearl dimensional granite paving is used. Instead of tearing up the driveway, novel design thinking reinvented the existing asphalt as large-format “pavers” by removing the negative space of asphalt while keeping sections that reveal the “paving.” This reductive approach ultimately cost a fraction—both in terms of money and energy—of tearing the entire driveway up, hauling it away, and replacing
it with new hardscape surfacing.

To manage the varying grades along the quarry rift, a cost-effective and novel approach was needed. The quarry block used is waste material that sat idle for years in the Freshwater Stone quarry. By using a composite of waste blocks harvested from the quarry in a choreographed and intentional way, the design created a connection to the quarry landscapes the clients spoke fondly of, managed technical needs associated with the site, and created an inspired and sculptural—albeit raw and perfectly imperfect—landscape sensibility.

The plant palette consists of successional planting that is typically found in dry gravel and quarry landscapes in Maine. Sweetfern, low-bush blueberry, bayberry, and mixed native grasses occupy the spaces in and around the rift axis, while the woodland edges of the site include species such as ligularia, mixed native woodland fern species, gillenia, and others. None of the planting is intended to be ornamental or decorative—its purpose is to feel intentional but unimportant, like a quarry and a contemporary residence collided with each other.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: David Maynes, david maynes STUDIO
ARCHITECT: Elliott Architects
LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION: Adams Landscaping & Construction
PHOTOGRAPHER: Matt Elliott
LOCATION: Blue Hill

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Fossets Acreage

A canvas of seasonal color and texture

The design also addresses challenging typography and drainage through subtle grading and concealed infrastructure. Hardscape and gathering areas were integrated into the terrain to maximize both comfort and views. A covered porch and shaded stone patio offer shelter from coastal breezes, while a sunlit deck and firepit area open to tranquil water views. Locally sourced Mystic Mountain granite, selected for its subtle blue and green undertones, anchors the site and mirrors the ocean’s shifting tones.

ARCHITECT & LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Knickerbocker Group
BUILDER: T.A. Greenleaf
LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION: Natural Concepts
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jeff Roberts
LOCATION: Midcoast Maine

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Le Petit Chalet

Restoring legacy through landscape

Each detail, from infiltration trenches to seating terraces, reinforces the garden’s function as a living system and soulful retreat. Now seamlessly integrated into its dramatic context, the project serves as a model for regenerative design and long-term stewardship within sensitive environments.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design
LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION: Gardenform Landscape Construction
PHOTOGRAPHER: Matthew Cunningham
LOCATION: Southwest Harbor

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Ledge & Light

A magical place overlooking the Kennebec River

This majestic home graces a higher point in the landscape, taking advantage of the spectacular views up and down the Kennebec River. An emphasis was placed on native plants and stonework, including paving and boulders indicative of a ledge that is apparent throughout the site.

The two sides of the house—the approach side and the water side—offer quite different enriching experiences. From the approach side, one is greeted by a lush view of native plantings and the preservation of key existing trees. The landscape then flows through an open connector between the main house and the carriage house. This opens up to the water side with both a dining terrace and a gathering terrace, each overlooking the stunning views of the river. The firepit perches atop the slope, and the warm glow of its crackling fire can be enjoyed both from the peastone terrace and from
within the house.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Richardson & Associates
ARCHITECT: Theodore + Theodore Architects
LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION: Maine Landcrafters
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: R.W. Stevens
PHOTOGRAPHER: Trent Bell
LOCATION: Sagadahoc County

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Meadow Ledge Garden Rehabilitation

A new construction meadow slope garden

The landscape design included the renovation of a steeply sloped piece of the property that was underdeveloped and challenging to traverse. The goal was to provide a dynamic plant palette with seasonal interest and wildlife foraging possibilities as well as a walking path to ascend and descend the pitch. DeNiord used a combination of native grasses and flowering perennials, including salvias, dropseed, moor grass, sedums, catmint, echinaceas, alliums, elderberry, and beach plum, to create a densely vegetated area that would hold the soils in place and create a slope and ledge garden.

Terracing was required for the house and pool to sit well on the building envelope, while poured-in-place concrete walls were used to retain grade and create a plinth for the outdoor living spaces. Wood decking and a local granite, called Mystic Mountain, are the primary paving materials for the pool deck and outdoor spaces. Gray-green in color, when wet the granite shows streaks of white that warm up the palette of the hardscape. The material is also incorporated into the house, where it is used for the steps inside the dining room.

LANDSCAPE DESIGNER: Soren deNiord Design Studio
ARCHITECT: Woodhull
LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR: Pinnacle Landscaping & Construction
PLANTING & MAINTENANCE: All Things Green
POOL: Northern Pool & Spa
TRELLIS: DSO Creative Fabrications
PHOTOGRAPHER: Soren deNiord
LOCATION: Cumberland Foreside

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Cape Elizabeth Front Landscape

Celebrating an unusual tree

What began as a modest project became a transformative opportunity when the homeowners asked Ted Carter Inspired Landscapes (TCIL) to redesign their front entrance. To create a more welcoming experience, TCIL reoriented the steps to the front porch. Although Carter initially considered removing a mature leaning tree, the homeowners advocated for its preservation. It became a celebrated feature, incorporated into a dry stream bed crossing under the main walkway.

At the entrance to the home, Woodbury gray granite steps meet a path made of square and rectangular bluestone. A custom fabricated granite slab from Swenson Granite Works acts as a stone bridge across the dry riverbed, which is filled with 3- to 4-inch river stone and lined with boulders. At the end of the riverbed, a standing Mystic Mountain granite stone sits in front of a Japanese pine. The circular terrace features irregular bluestone, and a large Cercis canadensis ‘Minnesota Strain’ provides nearby foliage. Other plantings include a dwarf blue spruce, hot pink astilbe, oak-leaf hydrangea, and garden juniper.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Ted Carter Inspired Landscapes
PHOTOGRAPHER: Don Lappin
LOCATION: Cape Elizabeth

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The Oakwood Project

A woodland garden setting with entertaining in mind

Set in a wooded lot, this home and its surroundings were designed to blend formal New England shingle-style architecture with a relaxed naturalistic landscape set up for entertaining. The client enjoys outdoor entertaining and wanted to be able to spend as much time as possible outside. Terrapin Landscapes designed an outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill and pizza oven and a patio with plenty of room for dining.

Instead of a backyard of grass to mow, the team created a destination firepit lounge area. The property had a significant natural ledge outcropping that was incorporated into the landscape design and accentuated with native plants. The most challenging aspects of the project were the elevation changes, which required creative stair conditions, as well as the need to create guest parking without adding too much pavement.

LANDSCAPE DESIGNER: Terrapin Landscapes
BUILDER: Keegan Construction
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Saltwater Home
PHOTOGRAPHER: Trent Bell
LOCATION: Kennebunkport

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Oceanside Avenue

A landscape for family gatherings, quiet reflection, and vibrant seasonal life

Nestled on over an acre of land just steps from the gentle sands of York Beach, the Oceanside Avenue property captures the harmony between modern living and nature. Inspired by the homeowners’ deep appreciation for plants and the outdoors, the landscape design was developed as a sanctuary for family gatherings, quiet reflection, and vibrant seasonal life, all while preserving the adjacent native woodlands.

The design embraces a contemporary aesthetic with a focus on simplicity and sustainability. Recognizing the home’s popularity in the summer months, the new landscape requires minimal upkeep, freeing up time for relaxation and entertainment.

Key planting features include a striking trio of Ginkgo biloba ‘Princeton Sentry’ trees and a collection of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Quick Fire,’ providing bold structure and seasonal color. Along the woodland border, swathes of Amelanchier canadensis ‘Autumn Brilliance’ offer spring blossoms and fiery fall foliage, while their berries feed local birds and enrich the habitat.

The cheerful colors of the purple door and orange siding inspired one of the most distinctive design elements, the playful granite walkway pieced together from reclaimed stone salvaged from bridges and roadways. Natural boulders and stone artifacts uncovered during construction were thoughtfully placed throughout the landscape as sculptural accents, blending the built environment with its natural origins. Together, these elements shape a serene, functional, and ecologically rich landscape—an ideal setting where the rhythms of nature and family life unfold in peaceful coexistence.

LANDSCAPE DESIGNER: Thomas Lynch Design
LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION: Adam Pierce Landscaping
PHOTOGRAPHER: Drew Fortin
LOCATION: York Beach

It all started with the dog. Auggie, an 18-year-old Havanese, was having trouble with the stairs in his new home. “The original staircase had great character—it was original to the house, from the 1840s—but it wasn’t safe. It had steep treads, and it was very narrow,” explains Auggie’s owner, Anna Smith.* In early 2020, she called up Jason Bailey of TMS Architects and Interiors and asked about building a new set of steps. And while they were at it, Smith thought, maybe they could add an elevator to help Auggie access her bedroom. “I put in an elevator, not for aging in place, but for my dog,” Smith clarifies. “Carrying him up and down the stairs all the time just wasn’t easy. And you know,” she adds with a laugh, “the elevator company told me that a huge percentage of elevators that they’re installing are for people’s elderly dogs.”

From these humble beginnings, the project bloomed. The exterior of the old Kittery home got a face-lift: sections of the roof were replaced, a sunroom was added, the porch grew in size, all new windows went in, bedrooms were reconfigured, and the worn kitchen was transformed into a newly spectacular space. Some homeowners would have been upset about the ever-increasing scale of the renovation, but not Smith. As an artist, she’s used to seeing potential in a blank canvas—or a coastal cottage. “This is the sixth house I’ve either built or renovated,” she says. “There are always issues along the way, and having an architect is really important to the success of a project like this,” says Smith. Bailey reveals that what started as a potential $300,000 project wound up costing closer to $1 million. “Anna was driving a lot of it,” he says. “She was a fantastic client. She was well versed in this process, and she was able to take each step to make it work.”

The top priority was the elevator, staircase, and addition. “Since it was an old house with a limited footprint, the decision to add on to the house was made pretty quickly,” says Bailey. The architecture “spoke to” Bailey, so designing within its visual language felt easy. “The solutions found themselves,” is how he puts it. “The building had a certain character to it, certain geometries, and she wanted to respect this aspect of the home.” They were able to expand the shingle-style home toward the street, creating a mudroom from which the elevator ascends. In the place of a covered porch, they built a sunroom, complete with salvaged wood beams and windows on three sides. “It was challenging to make [the addition] look like it had always been there,” says builder Ben Perez of Boston North Development. “For the interior, we bought materials at Nor’East Architectural Salvage in South Hampton, New Hampshire. We had to search through different boards so we could find some that had a particular look, but it’s now very cohesive with the rest of the house.”

The exterior required similar care, along with some structural work. Beneath the siding was a good amount of water damage, so it wasn’t enough to simply replace the cedar shingles. “When we got into redoing the exterior of the home, we found a lot of damage due to wind-blown rain,” explains Perez. “Exterior walls had rotted, which led to framing that was rotted on the inside. When we put the building back together after repairing those issues, we used a wind and water barrier called Slicker.” These mesh panels, applied to the frame behind the shingles, allow the siding to dry thoroughly between drenching rains. They also replaced all the windows in the house, plus all the exterior doors. A custom standing-seam copper roof was put onto the back of the house, wrapping around the kitchen and bedroom. “We also did a wood shingle roof that is unique to the project,” explains Perez. “We used Alaskan yellow cedar, which is a very durable, long-lasting product. And since we used red cedar on the siding, there is a nice contrast from one element to another.”

The interior, too, is defined by moments of subtle contrast. Smith worked closely with Cristina Johnson of TMS Architects and Interiors for all the decor and color schemes. The palette is defined by blues, grays, and teals, with occasional pops of orange and yellow to add brightness. “I love the navy blue window trim,” Smith says. “In the kitchen, we were able to coordinate that with the Viking stove and the rounded-top cabinet.” Johnson adds, “There is a yellow we used that was in the existing house. It’s a bit of an acid yellow, and it’s not something I would have used often, but it’s really cool.” In the laundry room, Johnson chose a playful wallpaper by Sister Parish that features blue stars and orange dots, which match the tangerine-painted floor perfectly. “It’s a small room, and it was really worth making it special,” says Smith. Deep, Atlantic blue echoes throughout the home, offset by the warm, wide-plank pine flooring. Gray-washed wood and dove-colored upholstery ground the living space, while the built-in benches feature classic navy plaid cushions. The overall effect is inviting and relaxed, yet still elegant—fitting for this vintage gambrel cottage.

While Smith wasn’t thinking about aging in place when she installed the elevator, she has been gratified to find out how well it accommodates her friends and relatives. “We also put in a nice, wide staircase with a good rise and run to it,” Bailey says. “And we put a gate at the top of the stairs, so guests moving about upstairs won’t accidentally go down. We did some safeguarding throughout; we tried to widen hallways as much as we could to provide passageway for someone with a mobility device.” While there aren’t any bedrooms on the first floor, Bailey notes that it would be quite easy for someone to live in this house without ever having to use the stairs, since the elevator brings them easily up to the owner’s suite and its renovated bathroom. “We expanded the primary bedroom by combining two smaller rooms and adding a walk-in closet,” explains Bailey. Smith adds, “The house isn’t too big. It has three bedrooms, but one is nice and big. It feels like the right size to live in.”

For Smith, the house had been “the one” since the moment she saw it, so all these renovations have felt like investments in her future. She plans to stay in the Kittery cottage for a long time, painting her seascapes, looking out the windows as ships sail by, and watching as her new plantings grow in. “I have a fabulous landscaper, Robbi Woodburn, who did a wonderful job,” she says. “She created a beautiful garden at the front of the house, and Jason [Bailey] designed a gorgeous trellis.” Climbing clematis bloom high on the wooden structure, while boxwoods and hydrangeas create a layered effect of foliage and blossom. New stone walls complete the picturesque outdoor space, only further enhancing the location (which Perez calls “second to none”). “I’m really happy with how it all came together,” says Smith. “Everyone worked hard to create something quite nice.”

*The homeowner’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.

Having grown up in Michigan, one of the owners of this Kennebunkport residence has been summering in the town her entire life—first next door, where five generations of her family have spent time, and later at this historic 1895 manse known as the Billows Cottage, which her parents and uncle purchased in 1981. Located directly across from the Atlantic, with views of Walker’s Point, the property was actually home to Barbara and George H.W. Bush during the 1970s. “My immediate family began staying in this house when I was ten, after it had served as a rental,” she says. “My parents eventually moved back next door, and then my husband and I took over the property from my siblings during COVID. The home didn’t have an HVAC system or any other significant updates, so it was time to breathe some new life into it. We wanted the family to be able to come year-round and celebrate holidays here. It was important to us to bring the structure up to modern standards while staying true to its character and surroundings.”

To guide the thoughtful renovation of this beloved place, the couple tapped architect David Graham, designer Alexandra Theofanidis of Studio Alpha Interiors, and Spang Builders. Because the couple has a large extended family—not to mention their own two children and dogs—they placed an emphasis on creating comfortable guest quarters and spaces for optimal entertaining. “This is a very family-oriented couple who like bringing everyone under one roof,” explains Theofanidis, who struck out on her own a few years ago after working in hospitality design. “The husband’s parents are from Italy, so they love cooking big Italian meals, and they even make their own grappa.” As such, reworking the kitchen and transforming part of the servants’ quarters into a pantry was of utmost importance. “The goal was to make the kitchen the center of the home and create that hearth feeling,” she continues. The designer worked with Graham on a new layout, making it more accessible to an adjacent sitting room and the dining room. “The fireplace used to face into the dining room, but we reversed it for use in the sitting room instead,” says the wife, noting that this is now one of her favorite spots to curl up and enjoy the ocean views. To make the most of the rather tight space, Theofanidis designed a built-in sofa that wraps around a windowed corner. “My mom sits there while I’m cooking, and my daughter loves to perch there and read,” says the wife. It’s also the perfect place to enjoy cocktail hour, thanks to the wet bar positioned between this area and the kitchen. On the other side of the kitchen is the new pantry, which features food storage, a beverage refrigerator, a farmhouse sink for prep, and a baking zone complete with a marble surface for rolling out dough.

This rejiggering of dated spaces (including an antique toilet tucked beneath the staircase), plus a minor addition to the rear of the structure, make all the difference in how the home functions. “We weren’t able to extend the footprint much, but David is a mastermind at working with what you have,” says Theofanidis. “Now the flow of the first floor and the back entry, which the family normally uses, is much better. We also added a mudroom with a special area for the dogs as well as a powder room and wine storage.” On the second floor, a new Jack and Jill bath serves the two bedrooms that hadn’t enjoyed en suites previously. And in an effort to take full advantage of every square inch, the dormers were raised in the unfinished third-floor attic, which became a bunk room complete with a desk area and an adjoining bath. “We have lots of small kids in the family, so we thought this would be a great spot for cousin sleepovers,” says the wife. “Now eight kids can sleep up there.” Theofanidis outfitted the room with a few nautical touches—including shiplap and porthole-like lighting—in addition to a whimsical tree wallpaper in one of the nooks. Combined with the view, she says, “It’s as though you’re on a boat, but also in the forest. This space is all about the kids.”

Despite these significant changes, the team’s goal was always to respect the residence’s history and remain true to its bones. “We tried to accentuate the old,” says Theofanidis. “The pine flooring on the first floor is original, as is the staircase. And the builder replicated a portion of the other architectural elements, such as the crown moulding, trim, and pocket doors, to match the rest of the house.” Other crucial behind-the-scenes updates included adding structural support, restoring the existing rock foundation, installing a new roof and shingle siding, and enlarging or adding windows to maximize the ocean views. “We didn’t want this to look like a remodel,” says Norm Laliberte of Spang Builders. “We replicated as much as we could to retain the essence of an old shingle- style home. You can tell it has been updated, yet you still feel like you’re stepping back in time.”

Carrying this sense of history through to the decor was key. “I wanted to reflect the grandeur of this generational home, which will hopefully withstand the test of time,” says Theofanidis. “I met the clients’ children, nieces, and nephews, and I thought about the fact that the house will be theirs one day. I really wanted it to represent their family. We were going for timeless, sophisticated, and elevated. This isn’t your typical beach house.” Indeed, the palette eschews crisp colors in favor of more muted, moody tones that appear sunworn in an utterly comfortable, casual way. And although the decor is anything but “beachy,” the expansive ocean scenery simply cannot be ignored. “We still wanted to bring the outside in, from the water to the pebbles on the beach,” says the designer. “That drove a good portion of the palette. You’ll find shades of green, navy, grayish blue, and pops of yellow on the first floor as well as patterns that create enough visual intrigue without being in your face.” When it came to the seven bedrooms upstairs, the couple asked that the designer work within the same color schemes that have become so well known to the extended family and friends. “Each bedroom has always had a different color assigned to it, and we wanted to keep up with that tradition,” explains the husband. “Alex did a great job translating them in a really subtle way.” According to the designer, she once again looked to the landscape when selecting specific shades of each hue. “The goal was to play on each color a bit rather than going fully chromatic,” says Theofanidis.

Throughout, performance fabrics and durable materials prevail, given the need to withstand everything from children and dogs to salt water and sandy feet. Theofanidis selected classic furnishings to mingle with some custom elements and a smattering of the clients’ existing antiques and artwork. She also layered in contemporary artwork by local artists and custom furnishings by local artisans. “It was important to us to find Maine woodworkers and source locally,” says the husband. After all, it’s those one-of-a-kind items that make the house theirs. “I hope my clients feel like the home reflects their style,” says the designer. “At the end of the day, this is a summerhouse, where they should be comfortable and happy.”