House Beautiful Nov. 2020
This Maine Vacation Home Puts a Fresh Spin on Seaside Hues
Written by Emma Bazilian | Photography by Read McKendree | Styling by Frances Bailey | View Article
Rocky shores, sweeping vistas, tight-knit communities—the coastal towns of Maine are famous for their ability to entice visitors to return summer after summer, generation after generation. So it was for a Connecticut-based husband and wife, the latter having grown up spending holidays in the southern part of the state, when they bought a piece of land there adjacent to her parents' home—and just a stone's throw from various aunts, uncles, and cousins
The couple, who have four young children, wanted a retreat that was bright and airy, one that captured plenty of classic New England charm without being cliché. Enter designer Chauncey Boothby, a Maine native with a proven talent for putting a fresh spin on the region's old-school design sensibilities.
Rocky shores, sweeping vistas, tight-knit communities—the coastal towns of Maine are famous for their ability to entice visitors to return summer after summer, generation after generation. So it was for a Connecticut-based husband and wife, the latter having grown up spending holidays in the southern part of the state, when they bought a piece of land there adjacent to her parents' home—and just a stone's throw from various aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The shingle-style house
The couple, who have four young children, wanted a retreat that was bright and airy, one that captured plenty of classic New England charm without being cliché. Enter designer Chauncey Boothby, a Maine native with a proven talent for putting a fresh spin on the region's old-school design sensibilities.
The plan for the home's interior started with the color palette: Rather than rely on a stereotypical navy-and-white nautical theme, Boothby dressed the house in "duck egg blues, teals, flax and taupes that pull from the sea and sand, but that didn't necessarily scream coastal," says the House Beautiful Next Wave designer. Next, "Instead of typical beach decor, we mixed in mid-century inspired pieces, caned woods and various natural materials among otherwise tailored furniture."
With the constant ebb and flow of guests in mind, the house has two separate bunk rooms—one for the couple's two older sons, where the custom beds feature queen-sized lower bunks and twins up above, and another one for visiting friends and family. (For the occasions when it hosts adult guests, "we tried to make it feel a little less juvenile," says Boothby.)
While the house was primarily built as a summer retreat, architects Brooks & Falotico and builders Thomas & Lord designed it to be used year-round, fully winterizing the structure so that the family could use it during the spring and autumn shoulder seasons, when nighttime temperatures can drop precipitously, and holidays like Thanksgiving. The decision that proved especially prescient over the past year: "It served as the perfect spot to quarantine!" says Boothby.
Kitchen
Two kitchen islands mean that the clients, frequent entertainers, have plenty of space to prep for dinner parties while the kids eat at the counter. Island paint color: Stratton Blue by Benjamin Moore. Stools: Serena & Lily. Pendants: The Urban Electric Co. (in Benjamin Moore's Wythe Blue). Tile: Subway Ceramics.
Screened-In Porch
Dining Room
"The requirement for this room was to maximize seating," says Boothby. "Typically the table is set for 10, but when fully extended, the table can squeeze up to 14." Pale blue trim—Benjamin Moore's Yarmouth Blue mixed with Simply White—livens up the white walls. Dining table: Restoration Hardware. Chairs: Palacek in a Schuyler Samperton Textiles fabric. Pendantand sconce: The Urban Electric Co. Rug: Merida Studio.
"Since the home is a fully winterized vacation home, this screened in porch was a created as a real three-season room—it's an ideal spot to spend a chilly fall weekend by the fire," says Boothby. Panels can be installed to add extra protection from the elements. Furniture: Kingsley Bates. Pillow fabrics: Peter Dunham through John Rosselli (on sofa) and Christopher Farr Cloth (chairs). Wall lights: NorthEast Lanterns. Rug: Serena & Lily.
Living Room
Performance textiles—like the Thibaut fabric on the Hickory Chair sofas and Delany & Long on the Lee Industries ottoman—are a no-brainer for a house where sandy feet are the norm. Chair: Mark Sikes for Hendredon in a Vanderhurd fabric. Coffee table: Oomph. Lamp: Serena & Lily. Tray: West Elm. Rug: Thayer Design Studios
Main Bedroom
Main Bathroom
The room’s serene palette reflects its sweeping ocean views. Chair: Ercol through Lekker Home in a Penny Morrison fabric. Drinks table: Bunny Williams. Pouf: CB2. Curtains: custom by the Drapery Trading Company in Pindler & Pindler fabric.
A blue-tinted white on the walls (Benjamin Moore’s White Ice) gives off a watery feel. Stool: vintage. Art: Ellen Welch Granter through Maine Art Hill Galleries.
guest bunk room
Daughter’s Room
"Since her brothers shared the large bunk room, it was important for the family’s only daughter to have her own space to host sleepovers," says Boothby. Pillow fabric: Radish Moon through John Rosselli (floral) and Kathryn Ireland (coral). Chair: Ballard Designs. Window treatments: custom by the Drapery Trading Company in Pindler & Pindler fabric.
Located over the garage in a separate part of the house, the second bunk room “affords a bit of privacy for a visiting family.” Pillows: Tulu Textiles.
Boys’ bunk room
“With reading lights in each bunk, it’s a perfect spot to read a book on a rainy beach day,” says Boothby of the older sons’ room. Sconces: Marset. Quilts: Restoration Hardware. Roman shade: custom by The Drapery Trading Company in a Peter Dunham fabric. Pendant: Hawkins New York.
