Salacia

After consulting with our clients’ during their extensive hunt up and down the Maine coast for the perfect property, they found a possible contender in a seaside town near Portland. The 1990s builder-grade home offered the right square footage, prime frontage along a sandy beach, and good bones, although with basic finishes. At the initial walkthrough meeting, Knickerbocker Group provided an early vision of what the house could become.

The intent was to honor our clients’ connection to Maine by giving the home the sense of history that it deserved, taking design inspiration from the grand cottages of Bar Harbor. The floorplan would be reworked, wainscoting would replace drywall, and the home’s narrow, eight-feet-wide porch—where everyone at the meeting was currently squeezed into—would become wide and sweeping, fitting for a home situated by the sea.

Our team set out carefully examining every space and designing it for how our clients, who have children and grandchildren, planned to enjoy it, as well as reorienting the rooms toward the water. The front staircase was relocated so that blue ocean was visible immediately in the entryway, drawing guests inside, and the back staircase was removed in favor of an elevator for aging in place. The clients frequently entertain, so a butler’s pantry with custom cabinetry replaced the breakfast nook and the dining room is now conveniently off the kitchen.

The team also raised the garage roof, transforming what had been an attic crawl space into a modern-traditional bunk room and dining/kitchenette where the homeowner’s children and grandchildren can comfortably stay. The full-size bunks, like berths on a boat, are outfitted with curtains that can be drawn for privacy, while the dining area is a cozy spot for rainy day crafts, early breakfasts, or late evening chats. Wood beams and beige whitewashed nickel-gap, narrower on the ceiling than on the walls, add vintage charm.

The design team oversaw every single selection in the home, from the window drapery right down to the flatware. The overall palette is one with rich patina and historic hues, and the home is outfitted with local hand-painted tiles, a mix of antique and contemporary furniture, heirloom-quality rugs, and custom built-ins with leaded glass and hand-forged ironwork by local craftspeople.

Understanding the importance of a functional, hard-working mudroom in Maine, space was borrowed from the garage to fit an island with cozy nooks for dog beds, a dog wash station, washer and dryer, and cubbies for every family member. The deep blue monochrome palette feels both enveloping and modern.