Overlooking Linekin Bay and Spruce Point in Boothbay, this four-season cottage and wood working shop replace a poorly sited and badly built 1960 ranch that did not confirm to Maine shoreland zoning standards. Our clients, a couple with two children, had deep ties to this area; the husband had spent 40 memory-filled summers just two doors down at his parents’ cottage. After an extensive permitting and approval process, we designed a shingle-style house in keeping with the old cottage vernacular of the area. Our design included open-plan kitchen, dining, and living spaces; an upper-level master suite that takes advantage of views and privacy; and a lower-level walkout with bedrooms and a shared bath for the children. A detached garage and shop will serve as an office and guest loft in the future. To balance the interiors with the aged feeling of the exteriors, ample wood and rugged materials are used throughout, including cedar, heavy beams, and rough-sawn timber framing.